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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 […]
You should escrow your property taxes and home insurance because it is the most convenient way to make sure that you pay them on time. Escrowing your taxes and homeowner insurance is optional if you obtain a conventional mortgage loan,...
By MacKenzy Pierre
To save, improve credit, reduce debt, and build wealth, you have to manage your money better. Here are the five best ways to manage your money. A personal finance budget can highlight your cash flow problems. Are you eating out...
By MacKenzy Pierre
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez believes that there is a positive correlation between record-high stock indices and inequality. Minutes after CNBC twitted, “Dow soars past 29,000 for the first time,” the congresswoman replied, “the Dow soars, wages don’t “ and...
By MacKenzy Pierre
The middle class needs to support Elizabeth Warren’s bankruptcy plan because they can benefit significantly from it. The proposed new bankruptcy laws will revert the corporate-friendly bankruptcy provision that the House passed, and President George W Bush signed in 2005....
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
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...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
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...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
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...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
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...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
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...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
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...