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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, […]
A second stimulus check might be inevitable since nearly half of the U.S. population is without a job. The Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues are not too eager to send direct payments to American citizens again...
By MacKenzy Pierre
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are two bi-partisan government programs when used effectively can benefit society greatly. The CTC, income tax credit of $2,000 per eligible child, provides a tax incentive for American taxpayers...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
The 40/40 struggle outlines further the continuous economic battle of the American working class. The Federal Reserve said that 40% of households earning less than $40,000 a year had reported a job loss so far. This pandemic induced-recession hit hardest...
By MacKenzy Pierre
The $600 unemployment supplement is due to expire next month. Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers have been having much debate about the extension of the additional weekly benefits. The Coronavirus Aid, Response, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provisions for unemployment...
By MacKenzy Pierre
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
The short answer Premium perks got expensive (lounges, partner reimbursements, richer credits), the “perk arms race” escalated, inflation raised every input cost, and enough cardholders happily...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
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...
If you’ve ever paid a $35 overdraft fee or borrowed $500 from a payday lender,...