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It starts with knowing your money: track your net worth and credit score, and check your finances daily. Your net worth goes beyond your budget, and by tracking it you will start to see how your decisions affect your bottom line. Know your credit scoreYour credit score is important. A good credit score gives you more options for everything from credit cards and personal loans to apartment rentals to insurance. The more money you have along with good money management skills, the more options and possibilities there are for you and your life.

Persons: Rachel Rodgers, —, Rodgers, Here's Organizations: Service, Money Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Junk fees, medical debt and artificial intelligence: CFPB chief lays out regulatory agenda
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Medical debtChopra said that tens of millions of Americans are battling medical debt. The crisis is compounded by debt collectors that add medical debt to credit reports as a means of coercion. The agency's crackdown on junk fees has prompted some policy changes at big banks, he added. "Many of them are getting rid of their reliance on junk fees and making their fees much more reasonable," Chopra said. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., has said the CFPB has "no authority" on the issue because junk fees is not a legal term.

Persons: Rohit Chopra, Tom Williams, Andy Barr, Chopra, servicers, We're, Experian, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Luetkemeyer Organizations: Consumer Financial Protection, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, Cq, Inc, Getty, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Federal Reserve, Governors, CNBC, Education Department, U.S, Kaiser Family Foundation, Bank of America, Biden, GOP, Rep, Financial Services Locations: Ky

Certain forms of identity theft, like synthetic identity theft or child identity theft, are harder to detect. You can also enroll in an identity theft protection service that can monitor the dark web for your information and provide identity theft insurance, usually up to $1 million. The best identity theft protection services will also provide you with personalized expert assistance if you experience more identity theft. While credit-related identity theft is more common, "identity theft can occur in other areas, including medical records, tax filings, social media accounts, employment history, and even criminal records," says Josh Amishav, founder and CEO of Breachsense, a data breach monitoring platform. Identity theft recovery frequently asked questionsCan you fully recover from identity theft?

Persons: you'll, David Burroughs, IdentityTheft.gov, You'll, Burroughs, you've, Equifax, Allen, Michael Bruemmer, haven't, Josh Amishav Organizations: FTC, Federal Trade Commission, Social, FBI, Social Security, Services, Social Security Administration Locations: AnnualCreditReport.com, Atlanta, Allen , TX, Chester ,

☆ Student Loan Repayments Are Dwindling - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Laura Beamer | Marshall Steinbaum | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +16 min

2013 was the first year when over half of all student loans carried a balance greater than originally borrowed. The 2020 student loan repayment pause shook up this unhealthy dynamic. But student loan repayment had been dwindling for at least a decade before the pause. But an important additional source of student loan misery is the widening and diversifying nature of the Americans who take them out. Our student debt research uses credit reports, both from an annual, representative cross-section of student borrowers and from a single group of borrowers we’ve been following since 2009.

Persons: couldn’t, Laura Beamer, Marshall Steinbaum, doesn’t, It’s, —, Biden, we’ve, they’re, “, Bill, ’ Organizations: Jain, Institute, University of Utah, White, American, Black, Women, Congress, Department of Education

☆ E-commerce experts say these 4 checkout mistakes may hurt your business' bottom line
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Paypal | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

But many customers still witness challenges during and after checkout, including false declines and fraud. Below are four common checkout mistakes that enterprise e-commerce businesses make and how to avoid them. If those thresholds are too conservative, they can lead to false declines; if they're too liberal, they become more vulnerable to fraud. E-commerce merchants lost an estimated $11.1 billion in false declines last year. The machine learning models can distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent transactions to reduce false declines.

Persons: they're, Cindy Turner, Turner, Chargebacks, PayPal Braintree6, Experian, Cartes Organizations: Enterprise, PayPal, PayPal Braintree, Merchants, Insider Studios, Accounting, Deloitte, Novarica, Naked, LexisNexis, DE Locations: PayPal Braintree, Risk, chargebacks, . CA

☆ Australia's competition watchdog puts data brokers on radar
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoJuly 10 (Reuters) - Australia's competition watchdog on Monday asked consumers, businesses and other relevant stakeholders to provide their views about the business practices of data brokers in an attempt to regulate the country's digital platform services sector. Data brokers generally gather information like personal details of customers including their browsing and purchasing behaviour from a wide range of sources such as mobile applications, social media sites and card payment providers. The report will explore how third-party data brokers collect and use information to create products and services and if there may be competition and consumer issues arising from this, the ACCC said in a statement. The regulator's digital platforms branch has been conducting a five-year inquiry till 2025 to inquire into the markets for the supply of digital services. The report will focus on businesses that collect information from third-party sources and share or sell data to other organisations and, on the off chance that there might be competition and customer issues emerging from it.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Gina Cass, Gottlieb, Rishav Chatterjee, Rashmi Organizations: Oracle Corp, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Australian Competition, Consumer Commission, Oracle, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, Ireland, Australia, Bengaluru

Medical debt can affect your credit score, but its been deprioritized by the credit industry. While FICO has lessened the weight of medical debt on your credit score, VantageScore completely removed medical debt from its calculations. How to improve your credit after medical debtWhile unpaid medical debt doesn't have the same impact on your credit score as an unpaid credit card bill, it can impact your credit nonetheless. Once you transfer that debt to your credit card, those protections you and your credit score have against medical debt no longer apply. Medical debt frequently asked questionsIs medical debt being removed from credit reports?

Persons: FICO, VantageScore, —, doesn't, Experian, Tiffany Cross, Rick Eicheldinger, You'll, Cross Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kaiser Family Foundation Locations: United States

You can enroll in an identity theft protection service so you don't fall victim to theft. There are many companies out there that solely focus on identity protection — you can read our guide to the best identity theft protection services — but you may be able to enroll in an identity theft protection service through your credit card provider. Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Covers up to 10 children under 18 at no extra cost Check mark icon A check mark. With services comparable to some of the best identity theft protection services at a competitive price, this is an appealing option to Discover cardholders.

Persons: Capital One's CreditWise, David McMillin David McMillin, Guy, David, he's Organizations: Social, Federal Trade Commission, Research, Express, American Express, Chase, Credit, Business, Capital, Mastercard, Theft Locations: cardholders, Experian, AnnualCreditReport.com, Chicago, Alaska , Utah , Oklahoma, Vermont

☆ The Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Kerri Anne Renzulli | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +15 min

Banks, credit unions, financial technology companies and even investment firms all offer debit cards geared toward under 18-year-olds. With Greenlight, children receive a physical debit card with their name on it. In addition to its abundance of customizable features, Greenlight also rises above other kids debit cards thanks to the educational tools and games included in its app. This is possible because the Step Visa Card is not technically a debit card, though it functions very similarly. How we pickedTo pick Buy Side from WSJ’s Best Debit Cards for Kids and Teens, we looked at card options available to those under the age of 18, including prepaid debit cards, checking account-linked debit cards, secured credit cards and brokerage account-linked debit cards.

Persons: Kerri Anne Renzulli, they’ve, Banks, we’ve, Greenlight, Chase, it’s, Side’s, —, Equifax, Roth Organizations: Community Federal Savings Bank, Capital, Teens, Chase, Teen, Fidelity, Learning, Kids

A Social Security number (SSN) allows the government and other entities to track personal information like employment history, tax contributions, and Social Security benefits. Qualifying reasons for new social security numberThe SSA outlines legitimate reasons to request a new Social Security number. Drawbacks of changing your Social Security numberA Social Security number change doesn't erase your financial history. New Social Security number frequently asked questionsCan you get a new Social Security number if your identity is stolen? Knowingly maintaining two Social Security numbers can result in a Social Security fraud charge, which can result in a maximum of five years in prison.

Persons: Nilsa Henriquez, Henriquez, —, TransUnion, It's, you've Organizations: Social Security, Social, SSA, Social Security Administration, New Social

☆ Lots of American millennials still depend on the bank of mom and dad — but they also say their parents are bad financial role models
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Many American millennials and Gen Z depend on their parents for money. Experian surveyed 2,008 US millennials and Gen Z and found that 54% of them are dependent on their parents. About 60% of those in Gen Z said they depend financially on mom and dad. Millennials' financial woes have been well documented, but there are two interesting twists in this study:They don't feel great asking their parents for financial support. They're asking their parents for financial help, but they don't agree with their parents' financial habits.

Persons: —, Experian, millennials, Gen Z, Millennials, Nidhi Pandurangi Organizations: Service, Census Bureau

☆ Here are moves parents can make to help adult child become financially independent, advisor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

These days, many young adults do not become financially independent until they are well into their 20s. To be sure, inflation has made it even harder for those just starting out. But, in addition to soaring food and housing costs, millennials and Gen Z face financial challenges their parents did not as young adults: On top of carrying larger student loan balances, their wages are lower than their parents' earnings when they were in their 20s and 30s. While older generations are more likely to think their kids should be completely financially independent by the time they turn 21, young adults say that's a good age to start paying some of their own expenses, such as credit card bills and travel costs, according to a separate report by Bankrate.com. "There's definitely a disconnect between parents and adult children," said Ted Rossman, Bankrate's senior industry analyst.

Persons: Zers, Ted Rossman Organizations: Finance

☆ What Is a Jumbo Mortgage, and How Do You Get the Best Rates?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Beth Decarbo | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

What is a jumbo mortgage? Do jumbo loans come with jumbo mortgage rates? Many times, jumbo rates are lower than those for conforming loans, in part because the stringent requirements to qualify for a jumbo loan lessen the risk that borrowers will default. Tips to save on a jumbo loanWith some savvy strategies, house hunters in need of a jumbo mortgage can reduce their costs. Chase, for example, offers the highest jumbo limits (up to $9.5 million), which is one of the reasons it is Buy Side’s pick for best jumbo mortgage lender.

Persons: Beth DeCarbo, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac won’t, Greg McBride, ”, Jacob Channel, Andy Wagner, Wagner, Bankrate’s McBride, Michael P, aren’t, Lani, —, Guy Cecala, ” Cecala Organizations: New, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Government, Jumbo, Nations Lending, ARM, American Mortgage Resource Inc, Inside Mortgage Finance, Bank of America, Chase, Mortgage Finance Locations: Minneapolis, Sacramento, CA, Denver, Boston, San Diego, New York City, Jackson, Chicago, Massachusetts, Wells, Fargo

☆ Here's the 14-page pitch deck a startup helping people build credit through rental payments used to raise $4.5 million from Clocktower VC and Plaid's cofounders
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Bianca Chan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Boom is a startup that helps people build credit by reporting rent payments to credit bureaus. The startup raised $4.5 million in a seed round led by Starting Line. "I started helping them on their housing, find a new rental, build credit, get things removed from their credit report, access rental assistance, things like that," Whiting told Insider. That's when the lightbulb went off to start Boom, a startup that helps people build credit by reporting their rent payments to credit bureaus. Here's the 14-page pitch deck Boom used to raise its $4.5 million seed.

Persons: Rob Whiting, Whiting, Kirill Moizik, helms, Boom . Whiting, Moizik, Boom, Plaid's cofounders Zach Perret, William Hockey Organizations: Boston Consulting Group, Clocktower

☆ People are impersonating homeowners to take out mortgages and steal the money. Here are the best ways to stop it happening to you.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Three industry professionals told Insider that incidents like this also happen in the US, and that homeowners should be taking steps to avoid it happening to them. The frequency of this specific type of fraud is hard to quantify, with most data tending to focus on the prevalence of mortgage fraud as a whole. Industry professionals told Insider in March that real-estate fraud as a whole has surged in the past year. Even in cases where the defrauded individuals successfully contest the loan, Berg said it can still be "costly and, of course, upsetting." The experts agreed that another way to stay safe is by purchasing insurance, such as an owner's title policy.

Persons: —, Jay Allen Macdougall, Macdougall, Josh Migdal, Migdal, Hayden, Arthur Pfizenmayer, Pfizenmayer, Bridget Berg, Berg Organizations: Service, Toronto, FBI, Federal Trade Commission, Industry, United States Sentencing Commission Locations: Canada, Pfizenmeyer, CoreLogic

☆ Detroit wisely gives up to Tesla this time
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Jonathan Guilford | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rallying around Tesla’s design will help. The partnership will also likely kill off competing standards - Tesla, Ford and GM accounted for three-quarters of electric cars sold in 2022, according to Experian. Apple (AAPL.O) and Alphabet’s (GOOGL.O) Google offer software that replaces the infotainment system and Tesla wants others to adopt its self-driving technology. Barra and Farley have given the tech upstarts an inch; Tesla and Big Tech will try to take the next mile. Tesla said in November that it would open its charging design for use by other companies.

Persons: Piper Sandler, Tesla, Mary Barra, Jim Farley, Farley, Jennifer Saba, Sharon Lam Organizations: YORK, Reuters, General Motors, automaker Ford Motor, Elon Musk’s, Ford, Apple, Google, Big Tech, Tesla’s, Ford Motor, Thomson Locations: North America, Canadian, Detroit

There are many reasons why a credit card issuer could decide to reduce your credit limit. AdvertisementIntroduction to Credit Line DecreasesYou're cruising along with your favorite credit card when you get a notification that your credit limit's been lowered. How does a decreased credit line affect my credit score? A decreased credit line can increase your credit utilization ratio, potentially lowering your credit score. AdvertisementKeep your credit utilization low, make payments on time, regularly use your credit card, and maintain a stable income.

Persons: —, Banks, you've, You've, Equifax —, You'll Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial

☆ The High Cost of Bad Credit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Mya Frazier | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“I didn’t know any of this.” She also didn’t know what exactly she could do. Clark requested her actual credit reports from the so-called Big 3 bureaus, each of which keeps its own records. So was the unpaid debt for the Dodge Neon and her own voluntary repossession — after seven years, some negative entries have to be removed from credit reports. The free reports didn’t include what Clark most wanted to know, however: her credit scores, the credit bureaus’ numerical prediction of how likely someone is to pay back a debt. She found seminars that cost as much as $1,500 but settled on two e-books, “Boost Your Credit Score” and “Do It Yourself!

Persons: ”, “, Clark Organizations: Facebook Locations: Houston

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card is one of the best secured credit cards for earning cash back. US Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card Review: Is It the Best Credit Card for You? Insider's Featured Secured Credit Cards Discover it® Secured Credit CardSelf Visa® Credit CardCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. US Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card RewardsHow to earn rewardsThe U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card has a better cash back earning rate than you'll find on most credit cards — making it a screaming deal for a secured credit card. Read our review Read Our Review A looong arrow, pointing rightUS Bank Cash Plus Secured Card Annual Fee and Other CostsThe U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card is a $0-annual-fee card.

Persons: You'll, That's, You've, It's, you've, you'll, We're, —, it's Organizations: Bank, Rewards, EV, U.S, Bank's, U.S . Bank, Business, Reading Chevron, US, Visa, Discover, Bank Cash, Quicksilver, Chevron, Gas, Department, Sporting, Travel, Cash, . Bank, Card, US Bank, Credit Cards, Card U.S, Go, Cards, Capital, US Bank Cash Locations: U.S

To improve your chances of getting approved for a new credit card, focus on building your credit score and tackling debt you already have. Monitor your credit score for freeBefore applying for a credit card, it's smart to check your credit score and monitor it for changes as you make moves to improve your credit score. Consider a secured credit cardIf you're worried about being approved for a credit card right now because your credit score isn't in the best shape, you can also consider one of the best secured credit cards. A secured credit card requires a cash deposit as collateral, and this type of card can help you build credit when you can't get approved otherwise. Once you use a secured credit card and make on-time monthly payments for a stretch of time, you may qualify for an upgrade to a regular credit card.

Persons: Read, —, doesn't, you'll Organizations: Service, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Quicksilver, Chevron, Gas, Financial Protection Bureau, CreditWise, Capital Locations: Capital

☆ What to know about buying a used electric vehicle as more hit the auto sales market
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Joe D'Allegro | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Electric vehicle sales keep growing, too. As recently as 2021, total battery-powered electric vehicle sales in the U.S. were under 450,000, but Kelley Blue Book says sales surpassed 800,000 in 2022 and are expected to top one million this year. While the used EV market is still very small, the growth trajectory of EV sales means shopping for a used electric vehicle will become more common and get easier over time, and encompass more make and model choices. In many ways, shopping for a used electric vehicle is the same as looking for any other used car or truck. Electric vehicles lose value faster, but upkeep is lessEVs generally depreciate faster than ICE vehicles, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Step, a mobile banking platform geared toward teen customers, announced Wednesday that users may now earn 5.00% annually on savings balances of up to $250,000. View Full Details Start banking Step, FDIC Insured AccountStep - Banking for Teens Start banking Step, FDIC Insured Account Details Rewards Earn rewards by using a Step Visa Card at qualifying merchants — restaurants, clothing stores, gas stations, and more. Annual Fee $0 Recommended Credit No Credit Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) None Editor's Rating 4.2 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 4.2 out of 5 Stars Pros & Cons Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Other savings account optionsIf you do not qualify to earn 5.00% at Step or want to consider other options, here are some accounts from our best savings account guide that you might like:Alliant Kids Savings Account: This is listed as our top pick for kids. Once a child turns 13, they'll be able to open a teen checking account; the Alliant Kids Savings Account can remain as their savings account.

As the base on which your credit score is calculated, credit reports don't actually include your credit scores. Checking credit score frequently asked questionsWill checking my credit score lower it? Your credit reports do not show when you check your credit score, so the credit scoring algorithms have no way of knowing if you checked your credit score. Similarly to your credit score, checking your credit report doesn't change your credit score. While the average Gen Z consumer has a 679 FICO score, the average member of the Silent Generation has a 760 FICO score.

☆ Experian's outlook highlights North America lending woes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Eva Mathews | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 17 (Reuters) - Experian Plc's (EXPN.L) annual revenue growth forecast on Wednesday signalled a challenging economic backdrop, especially in North America, where the failure of three U.S. regional banks has hurt confidence in the sector. Experian's key customers include banks, non-traditional lenders and insurance providers, which use its credit reports and scores to analyse and make decisions around credit risk, fraud prevention and lending terms. "Tighter lending conditions (especially in North America) are impacting some of Experian's business lines with more direct volume exposure, including its core credit bureau and marketplace, which together account for about 17% of group revenue," Bank of America analysts said. About 67% of Experian's group revenue comes from the North America region. For the year ended March 31, Experian's organic revenue growth of 7% to $6.59 billion compared with analysts' consensus of $6.64 billion.

☆ LSEG, Experian shares weigh on UK's FTSE 100
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Johann M Cherian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The financial services sector (.FTUB3020) slid 1.1% while the broader FTSE 100 (.FTSE) shed 0.1%. Shares of Experian Plc (EXPN.L) slipped after the credit data firm forecast annual organic revenue to grow between 4% and 6%, while analysts were expecting a 5.8% growth. "In early trade, the market looks to be taking a cautious approach (with Experian's shares)," said Steve Clayton, head of equity funds, Hargreaves Lansdown. Among other movers, Watches of Switzerland Group Plc (WOSG.L) slumped 7.4% on a marginal sales decline in the first quarter. Bucking the sombre mood, Sage Group Plc (SGE.L) rose 3.6% after upgrading its annual organic recurring revenue growth forecast.

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