Financial Tips

CFPB: Seven Factors That Determine Your Mortgage Interest Rate

Your lender knows how your interest rate gets determined, and we think you should, too. Learn more about the factors that affect your interest rate. By Nicole Shea If you’re like most people, you want to get the lowest interest rate that you can find for your mortgage loan. But how is your interest rate determined? That…

CFPB: What To See Where You Stand Financially? Start With These 10 Questions

In 10 questions, the CFPB’s interactive Financial Well-Being questionnaire shows you a score that can help you assess your financial situation.  By Janneke Ratcliffe   When it comes to money, there are lots of numbers to tell you how you’re doing, like how much you have in the bank, your credit score, or the number…

CFPB: Understand Your Options | Tips for Student Loan Borrowers with Disabilities

Student loan borrowers with disabilities face unique challenges when repaying student loan debt. Borrowers with disabilities complain to the Bureau about servicing breakdowns and debt collection obstacles. These breakdowns can increase borrowers’ financial distress. Servicing breakdowns that lead to delinquency and default can be particularly devastating for borrowers with disabilities. This is because certain of…

CFPB: 10 Ways to Protect Yourself in the Wake of the Equifax Data Breach

Whether or not you are among the millions of people affected by the recent Equifax data breach, there are several steps you can take to respond when your personal information is exposed in a data breach. We outlined several identity theft tips for you last week. Since then, people have been asking many questions and…

CFPB: Service Members Should Secure Their Identity after the Equifax Data Breach

If you were one of the many servicemembers and their families affected by the recent Equifax data breach, it is time for you to secure your identity. Thankfully, active duty servicemembers have special tools at their disposal, like active duty alerts or a security freeze, to reduce the risk of identity theft. Here is a CFPB operation order for…

CFIB: Identity Theft Protection Following the Equifax Data Breach

By Kristin Dohn  Millions of Americans have been impacted by the recent Equifax data breach. Whether or not your personal information has been stolen, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your credit. What is identity theft, and what can you do? Sometimes criminals who steal data use it to engage in…

CFPB: A Financial Toolkit for Victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

When a catastrophe like Hurricane Harvey or Hurricane Irma happens, your world can be turned upside down. During these tough times, it may be difficult to know who to trust and where to look for guidance and assistance, as well as what financial steps to take as you begin recovering. These are a few organizations…

CFPB: Got a Check in the Mail from the CFPB? Here’s How to Tell if it’s Legit

If you have received a check from the CFPB, it is because we have taken an enforcement action against a person or company for violating a consumer financial protection law, and you are eligible for compensation as a result of this violation. This check may come in the mail directly from the CFPB or from…

CFPB: After Hurricane Harvey, a Financial Toolkit

Once you have addressed your most urgent needs, there are steps to secure your financial obligations after a natural disaster. By Kristin Dohn When a catastrophe like Hurricane Harvey happens, your world can be turned upside down. During these tough times, it may be difficult to know who to trust and where to look for…

CFPB: Report Warns that Taking out a Reverse Mortgage Loan can be an Expensive Way to Maximize Social Security Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a report warning older consumers about taking out a reverse mortgage loan in order to bridge the gap in income while delaying Social Security benefits until a later age. The CFPB report found, in general, the costs and risks of taking out a reverse mortgage…