The pandemic has left many Americans without a stable income for months on end. Consolidated Credit's Director of Education and Corporate Communications, April Lewis-Parks, tells Bankrate that there are special loans for this particular group of people. Coronavirus hardship loans can help Americans who have lost their jobs during this crisis.
Read More
Consolidated Credit teamed up with Deerfield Beach High School to teach freshmen students the importance of paying themselves first, as Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr. taught. On January 16, 134 freshmen students learned about budgeting concepts inspired by Dr. King Jr.'s Drum Major Instinct Sermon.
Read More
Having adult children move back into your home creates a burden on your finances and can put your retirement at risk. Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks talks GOBankingRates about how parents can maintain stability, specifically by having adult children contribute to the household finances and pay specific bills, so they aren't just freeloading.
Read More
Seasons greetings to holiday spending stress. The holiday shopping season can create anxiety and pressure to spend money you don't have. Consolidated Credit's Financial Education Director April Lewis-Parks talks to Bankrate about how free tools like Consolidated Credit's holiday spending planner can help shoppers stay on budget this year and reduce their holiday stress.
Read More
Leaving your job is a huge transition, especially when it comes to thinking about what to do with your 401k plan at your former employer. Consolidated Credit president Gary Herman talks to Forbes about why it's better to hang on to your 401k, rather than cashing it in, even if you need money to stay afloat while you look for a new job.
Read More
Credit cards aren't all bad. In fact, as long as they're used correctly and the debt is managed properly, they can offer a wide range of benefits. Consolidated Credit's financial education director talks to CreditCards.com about how features like built-in fraud protection help protect consumers from identity theft and fraud.
Read More
Finding a new job to advance your career is phenomenal, but most workers don't really understand what happens to their 401k plan when they leave a company. Gary Herman, President of Consolidated Credit talks to FiduciaryNews.com about what a company's responsibility is in managing a former employee's 401k and how workers can educate themselves so they understand the ins and outs of their plan
Read More
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.
Read More
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
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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.
Read More
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
