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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 […]
These are Services that Middle-Class Americans Won’t Be Able to Afford by 2030 Due to Inflation and Price Gouging Taking your kids to a sporting event used to be an affordable weekend pastime for families. Seeing your favorite band whenever they were in town didn’t break the bank. But those days are quickly fading. Now, […]
Wealth is often used to describe people with a lot of money. However, there are different levels of wealth, and it’s important to understand the differences between them. Two terms that are often used interchangeably are “rich” and “mass affluent.”...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
The Biden-Harris Administration has proposed a comprehensive student debt relief plan that aims to alleviate the burden of student loan debt on millions of Americans. The plan includes measures such as expanding Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), cancelling up to...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
The American tax system is a complex federal, state, and local tax web. They can significantly burden wealthy Americans, so many choose to move to tax-free states to reduce their tax liabilities. Rich Americans continue moving to Florida, Texas, Nevada,...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
In recent years, there has been an unprecedented expansion of the global middle class. According to the World Bank, between 1990 and 2015, the percentage of people living in extreme poverty fell from 36% to 10%, and the global middle...
By MacKenzy Pierre
For many Americans, owning a car was long a pillar of middle-class stability. That’s shifting. Monthly car payments have now soared: the average new-vehicle payment is...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Mortgage rates barely slipped—call it three-quarters of a point from recent highs—and yet homeowners rushed to cash-out refis like it’s 2005 with granite countertops on the...
By FMC Editorial Team
A handful of states—mostly in the Northeast and Midwest—are posting the strongest house-price gains right now. But before you treat rising equity like found money, remember...
By FMC Editorial Team
If you’ve ever paid a $35 overdraft fee or borrowed $500 from a payday lender, you’ve felt the reach of America’s quietest predator — the financial...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
A bank account should keep your money safe — not nickel-and-dime you every month. If you’ve ever been hit with a $35 overdraft fee or had...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
If your bank has been quietly eating away at your balance with “maintenance,” “paper statement,” or “non-activity” fees, it’s time to make a move. Too...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
The fight for fairness in finance isn’t fought in marble halls — it’s fought every time a family gets hit with a $35 overdraft fee. If...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
If you think American banks charge too many fees, you’re right — and you’re not imagining it. Compared to much of the developed world, the United...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
The illusion (why “free points” aren’t free) Rewards feel like free money. In reality, red tape, devaluations, and “earn-more-to-save-more” nudges push you to overspend for perks...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
The give-and-take (how premium cards actually work) Premium cards are a trade: issuers “give” perks (lounges, credits, partners), and you “give back” via the annual fee...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
For many Americans, owning a car was long a pillar of middle-class stability. That’s shifting....
Mortgage rates barely slipped—call it three-quarters of a point from recent highs—and yet homeowners rushed...
A handful of states—mostly in the Northeast and Midwest—are posting the strongest house-price gains right...