Latest Unemployment News: More of the Same
The Department of Labor’s latest report on the unemployment situation in the U.S. shows little change from a week earlier, indicating that significant recovery in the jobs market has not yet taken hold. Here’s a look at some of the latest numbers (for the week ending July 17, published at the end of last week):
Seasonally [...]
Facing Foreclosure in Florida? A New Way to Save Your Home
Many people use lottery and contest winnings to buy a new house. But a new contest hosted by Avvo aims to keep the winner in their house.
Avvo.com is hosting the Save My House contest for residents of Florida facing foreclosure. The winner will have Avvo find a local lawyer for them and then cover the [...]
New Government Site Puts Financial Information in One Place
The federal government has launched a centralized website to provide consumers with financial information about a variety of subjects.
The site, MyMoney.gov, includes resources from 12 government agencies (including the FDIC, the Federal Reserve, the National Credit Union Association and more), which collectively make up the Financial Literacy and Education Commission.
Centralized Financial Help
The genius of this [...]
Learn from Your Fake Financial Mistakes
Unfortunately, one of the best ways to learn what an online scam looks like is to encounter one. And if you’ve had too much experience with online scams you could still be reeling financially or considering bankruptcy.
The good news: The Federal Trade Commission has announced a new website to help consumers experience a variety of [...]
Senate Passes Financial Oversight Bill
Last December, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a financial oversight bill that would address many of the problems on Wall Street that led to the stock market collapse that touched off the Great Recession. Last week, as the New York Times reported, the Senate passed a similar bill.
Now, the two houses plan to work [...]
Proposed Law Would Place Restrictions on Debt Settlement Companies
Two senators have proposed new regulations that may drastically change the way debt settlement companies do business.
The amendments are part of a larger financial reform bill currently being discussed and were jointly proposed by Senator Charles Schumer of New York and Claire McCaskill of Missouri, the Associated Pres reports.
The laws propose some major changes to [...]
More Protection for Bankruptcy Filers: Labor Department Updates Enforcement
The New York Times reported this week that the U.S. Department of Labor has announced plans to better enforce corporate compliance with worker safety, wage and employment equality laws. There is some hope that this move will provide extra protection to workers filing bankruptcy.
The measure will reportedly target two major problems in the workplace: Improving [...]
Financial Preparation: Kids and Advertising
The FTC announced this week that it has launched a program to help America’s “tweens” understand how advertising works so they can become critical thinkers and wiser consumers as they begin earning disposable income and saving for the future.
From a financial literacy standpoint, this move could pay big dividends down the road: Teaching kids to [...]
Looking for Work? More Companies Looking to Hire, Survey Says
As the weather warms up around the country, a new survey shows the job market may be starting to thaw.
A survey by the National Association for Business Economics released yesterday revealed the most optimistic job outlook in several years.
Business leaders said they expect to lay off fewer employees and hire more new workers in the [...]
New Mortgage Help Announced
Americans struggling against underwater mortgages and those who have lost their jobs may have new government-sponsored ways to stay in their homes and keep up with mortgage payments. Here’s an outline of two new programs, and what they may mean for you:
Help With Underwater Mortgages
If you owe more on a mortgage than the home’s current [...]