Headline News Archive

2017

September

19

• Stuck in the middle with few housing options. Housing is expensive for everyone in the Bay Area, but it’s especially challenging for middle-income buyers. Most new supply is at the high or low…

18

• California legislature passes bills to reform PACE energy-efficiency loans. Two bills that would boost protections for consumers taking out PACE home-improvement loans are headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk after passing the Legislature. The…

16

• Five tips for choosing a reliable nursing home. The news that eight Florida nursing home residents died in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma has prompted a criminal investigation and spurred widespread outrage. Experts…

15

• African Americans only racial group still making less than in 2000. African Americans are the only racial group the Census Bureau identifies that has been left behind. White, Asian and Hispanic households have all seen at least modest income gains…

14

• Equifax's free credit freeze won't fully protect you, here's what to do. In the days since the credit reporting firm Equifax disclosed the breach of 143 million consumers’ private financial data, howls of outrage have only grown…

13

• U.S. middle-class incomes reached highest-ever level in 2016. The incomes of middle-class Americans rose last year to the highest level ever recorded by the Census Bureau, as poverty declined and the scars of…

12

• To help hurricane victims, it may become easier to tap 401(k) accounts. Congress may temporarily loosen the laws governing the popular 401(k) savings plans to allow hurricane victims to tap into their retirement to pay recovery costs…

• The cost of the American dream. Americans, especially rich ones, underestimate the importance of where and to whom they are born.

07

• Equifax says cybersecurity incident could affect 143 million consumers. Equifax said it discovered the breach on July 29. "Criminals exploited a U.S. website application vulnerability to gain access to certain files," the company explained.…

• Good news we could all use: Stories of money success. “I paid off my mortgage on July 3,” one reader wrote. “THAT was Independence Day! Well, two weeks later, I received a check from the…

06

• Wells Fargo accused of forcing mortgage applicants to pay unwarranted fees. Wells Fargo, the controversy-battered big bank, has a new problem — this one directly affecting mortgage applicants. Last week, a first-time home buyer filed a…

• Immigrants are sought for labor shortage in Harvey recovery. Day laborers — many of them immigrants and many of them in the country illegally — will continue to be in high demand in the…

05

• Writing off a catastrophic loss. You might be able to deduct a portion of the loss on your tax return.

August

31

• 35 % of Americans are enrolled in auto pay — and It’s news to them. Tempted to give that new streaming service or gym membership a trial run? Be sure to read the fine print.  According to a new survey…

• 3 myths that could tank your credit score. Myth No. 1: Closing out credit card accounts will boost your score Many people assume that if they close out a bunch of credit card…

• Here’s what you need to know about flood insurance. As tens of thousands of people in Southeast Texas try to recover from the devastating floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey, many homeowners will discover damage to…

30

• HUD tightens requirements for loans seniors can take against homes. Concerned about financial losses in a federally insured mortgage program for seniors, the Department of Housing and Urban Development on Tuesday announced plans to adjust…

29

• File Harvey claims before law change. Attorneys and a Texas lawmaker are urging homeowners to try and file claims for property damage inflicted by Hurricane Harvey before Friday, when a new…

• How parents can help their grown child get an apartment. We have advised many parents who are trying to help their children find and move forward on renting their first home. Many parents have not…

• How to file a claim for flood damage. The National Flood Insurance Program was created by Congress to provide flood insurance to property owners. Homeowners in areas designated as 100-year flood zones are…

25

• How to balance debt and investing. Paying off debt and investing are important parts of responsible financial planning.

22

• Aging parents with lots of stuff, and children who don’t want it. Mothers and daughters talk about all kinds of things. But there is one conversation Susan Beauregard, 49, of Hampton, Conn., is reluctant to have with…

21

• Labor groups step up pressure on Trump to deliver. Labor leaders, once courted by President Trump, are stepping up their campaign to turn workers against the White House if it does not deliver more…

• Could you live off Social Security alone?. When it comes to retirement, there’s one question that is sure to get a lot of people to save: Could you survive if you only…

18

• Are you plagued by a serial get-out-of-debt disorder?. There’s a group of people who suffer from “serial get-out-of-debt disorder.” This ailment typically affects people who live above their means. One long-term effect of…