You may think saving for retirement is out of your reach, but even when you're facing financial challenges like limited income and excess debt, there are ways to start saving for retirement. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director talks to Fox Business about easy ways that Americans can start saving to have a million dollars by the time they retire.
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An allowance gives parents a great way to introduce children to the concept of money. But if your kids are only spending the money on things that they want, that's missing an opportunity to teach your kids how to manage their money effectively. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks explains how you can use kids' allowance to teach them about paying for essentials first
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Most of us never received any financial education beyond hearing from our parents that, "Money doesn't grow on trees." But are parents doing enough to educate their children? Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks talks to NBC News about easy ways parents can teach their kids about money, such as making kids allocate allowance for more than just the fun stuff they want.
Read More Achieving a better financial outreach can seem daunting, but creating a 30-day action plan to get your finances in order can put you on a path to success and give you the momentum you need to move forward. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director talks to Fox Business about how to create a 30-day action plan that will help you budget, manage debt, improve your credit and start saving for retirement.
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Fixed-rate credit cards are rare, but they can be extremely useful, as long as you're aware of the extra eligibility requirements, such as a security deposit. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director talks to U.S. News & World Report about how to find these cards, what the benefits are and when to use them.
Read More Not everything you know about finance is necessarily true. Consolidated Credit's financial education director talks to Fox Business about how common money myths can land a consumer to make poor choices when it comes to debt and their credit. This article debunks 5 money myths, so you can separate financial fact from fiction.
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If you're looking to finance a small business venture, you may be thinking about tapping your retirement funds. However, this can put your long-term financial stability at risk. April Lewis-Parks offers advice on how to look for alternative financing options first, so you can protect your retirement income.
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Is there such a thing as "good debt"? Yes, but what counts as good and bad often depends on who you ask. Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks talks to The Simple Dollar about debts that fall into the gray area of good and bad, and why loans like your auto loan actually fall into the bad column
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Identity theft is becoming a fact of life for U.S. consumers, but people don't always know what steps they need to take to recover quickly if they become a victim. Consolidated Credit's financial education director April Lewis-Parks explains why it's important to file a police report, in addition to reporting the theft to the FTC.
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Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director, April Lewis-Parks talks to USA Today about the best way for consumers facing credit card debt problems to get out of debt. When choosing between a personal consolidation loan and a professionally assisted repayment plan, Lewis-Parks says that many people have success with repayment plans, where consolidation loans have failed.
Read More While most people know that they need a good credit score, not everyone knows exactly how to get there. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director talks to USA Today about the 9 things that every consumer needs to know about their credit score and how it's calculated.
Read More If you're facing credit card debt problems, a debt management program could be the solution you need to increase your savings as you get rid of your debt load. Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks explains how to get out of debt and then customize a strategy for staying out of debt permanently.
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Medical debt is now a leading cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. NBC 6 South Florida investigates the impact on medical debt on South Florida residents. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director weighs in to explain the credit effects of medical debt and what people can do to make sure their finances recover quickly.
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Everyone wants to live out their golden years the way they'd imagined, but the likelihood that you have enough savings to make your retirement dreams a reality are slim. April Lewis-Parks explains how pre-retirees can determine if they're really on track with their retirement savings, and what to do if you find out you're behind.
Read More The Equifax data affected an estimated 145 million consumers in the U.S., but a CreditCards.com survey found only 53% of those affected took action. Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks explains why it's not too late to take action and protect your identity. Learn what you can do if you find out you're a victim of a data breach like this one.
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The Week talks to pre-retirees entering their 60s about what they can do to really get ready for retirement. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director explains how to use free calculators that you can find online to see if you have enough money saved and how little changes can have a big impact on your strategy.
Read More The Money Tips staff at The Week looks at the most dangerous pitfalls of owning a credit card, from billing disputes to account closures. Our Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks explains what to do if you face one of the pitfalls: identity theft, with tips on how to recover quickly and minimize out-of-pocket losses.
Read More Just because you have a high credit score, it doesn't mean everything is roses in your financial landscape. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director weighs in on how debt consolidation can give you credit score a big boost, even though you're still facing challenges with debt. In fact, consolidation could make your financial situation worse, even though your score is higher.
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If you're facing problems with credit card debt, you may have heard about credit counseling. But asking for help with your money can be scary. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director explains what you can expect out of free credit counseling and how it could help you find the best solution for your debt without any guesswork.
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Consolidated Credit's President Gary Herman talks to Newsday about one major credit score myth – that getting help to pay off credit card debt will always hurt your credit score. Although there may be a stigma in asking for help with credit card debt, professional assistance may be your best way out of debt. And it may be the fastest way to improve your score, too.
Read More Parents want to send their kids off to college with the world, but breaking the bank to decorate a dorm room with all the latest tech isn't practical (or good for your credit card debt). Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director explains how to just say no to luxury items that you college-bound grad may want, but may not necessarily need.
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Heading into a New Year means new goals to conquer. April Lewis-Parks of Consolidated Credit explains how people can make a real goal to conquer credit card debt by taking small steps forward, starting with paying off your lowest balance first. Paying off one small account at a time will give you the momentum you need to conquer your biggest balances before the end of the year.
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