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Abstract Middle-class Americans maintain a structurally unequal relationship with the country’s largest banks. This asymmetry stems from persistent financial literacy gaps, the complexity of modern banking products, behavioral design that nudges consumers into costlier outcomes, and the scale advantages enjoyed by megabanks. Although regulators intervene episodically—most visibly in cases like Wells Fargo’s fake accounts scandal […]
Introduction Middle-class voters are the backbone of the American electorate. Their votes decide elections, and their voices shape national policy. In the 2020 presidential election, for example, middle-class suburban voters played a critical role in swinging key battleground states, underscoring their influence on electoral outcomes. Yet politicians often speak about the middle class in vague, […]
The lingering shadows of the Gilded Age stretch into the present, casting a long silhouette over America’s economic landscape. Families like the Waltons, the Mars clan, and the Cargill-MacMillans stand as pillars of enduring wealth, their fortunes built over decades and, in some cases, centuries. These dynasties have accumulated vast resources and mastered the art […]
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to make big moves with your finances, this is it. The Federal Reserve just made its first interest rate cut since 2020, slashing the federal funds rate by a full half percentage point. This is no small step—it’s a loud and clear signal that the era of “cheap […]
You’re not alone if you’ve noticed your savings dwindling or are finding it more challenging to set aside money. The U.S. personal savings rate has plummeted in recent months, reaching a low of 2.9% as of July 2024, a stark contrast to the pandemic peak of nearly 35% in April 2020. This decline is driven […]
FHA loans are in demand again a decade-plus years after the Great Recession. With its low down-payment and credit score requirements, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans are the way that low-income Americans can buy homes. According to a HodPads report,...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Chase Bank will increase the annual Membership Fee on its Sapphire Reserve credit card to $550. The company made the announcement about two weeks ago. In addition to its high annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card is super...
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The U.S. mortgage rates continue to fall. The meager mortgage rates might encourage more people to buy homes. The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 3.51% from 3.60% last week The average rate on a 15-year mortgage...
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About 110 million American consumers could see their credit scores change by the summer due to new FICO scoring by the Fair Isaac Corporation. The new model will analyze a more extended period of your payment history. If you missed...
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Too many of you are cooking for 25 when 12 RSVPed. That’s why hosting feels expensive. Not because people don’t want to bring anything — but...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
“Setting a One-Gift Rule to protect the family budget” — Financial Middle Class Too many of us are blowing past our December budget because nobody wants...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
December is sneaky. It’s the one month where three different money cultures collide: the office wants to do “something fun,” your building staff suddenly has an...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Too many of you are stressed about money and think it’s because you “just need to budget better.” That’s not the full story. You’re living through...
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Reality Check If you’re the first in your family to go to college, you don’t just pick a major—you pick a financing model. And that choice...
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Reality Check You shouldn’t need a translator to pay for college. Yet for too many middle-class families, the FAFSA feels like a maze with moving walls—new...
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Reality Check You’re looking at your budget and your chest gets tight. Rent, groceries that cost more than last year, childcare, car insurance. And now those...
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Reality Check Your paycheck stops; your life doesn’t. It’s Day 31 of the shutdown. Rent is due today, the daycare draft hits tomorrow, and you’re staring...
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The Plain‑English Take There was a time when a steady paycheck, a pension, and a gold watch weren’t a fantasy. They were the deal. If you...
By FMC Editorial Team
Most middle-class households aren’t “bad with money.” They’re paying a quiet tax in fixed costs and frictions—housing, healthcare, childcare, and high-APR debt—that eat the raise before...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Too many of you are cooking for 25 when 12 RSVPed. That’s why hosting feels...
“Setting a One-Gift Rule to protect the family budget” — Financial Middle Class Too many...
December is sneaky. It’s the one month where three different money cultures collide: the office...