Real Clients, Real Success

Every client has a story. Setbacks. Hard work. Success. When you hear their stories you may be surprised at how much of yourself you see in their circumstances. No matter the differences, however, the end result is the same across every story - they decided to make a change and reached their goals as a result. You can do the same.

Financial Tips and Advice

We blog about all kinds of financial topics - from the psychology of spending to the simplest ways to cut costs. Browse our extensive backlog of educational articles.

  • couple discussing finances

    What Does It Mean If Your Credit Card is Charged Off?

    When a credit card, utility bill, or other debt goes unpaid long enough, it may end up being “charged off” by the lender. What exactly does that mean, and what does it mean for you? Here's everything you need to know about charged off accounts.
  • woman with mask checking her phone

    How to Collect a Missing Stimulus Payment

    The second wave of coronavirus stimulus payments (for $600) have been distributed, but not everyone has received their check. If your payment landed in the wrong account, here's what you need to do.
  • woman reviewing information on her phone at a coffee shop

    How to Complete an End-of-Year Debt Assessment

    At the end of a strange and challenging year, it's especially important to review your debts, check your progress, and set a plan for the year ahead. Here's what to look for and how to properly assess your debts before the year ends.
  • senior aged customer speaking with pharmacist

    Best Prescription Discount Programs

    In 1960, the average amount consumers spent on prescription drugs was $90. In 2017, it was $1,205. To keep the costs of necessary medications down, look toward apps and discount programs that can help you save. We’re rounded up a few of our favorites:
  • barista wearing a mask and cashing out customer

    A Guide to Tipping in the Age of Social Distancing

    COVID-19 has drastically changed the way we interact with service industry workers. How has social distancing, quarantine, and state-wide lockdowns, where carryout and delivery have now become the norm, changed the etiquette of tipping? We asked some experts to weigh in:
  • woman making an online purchase in front of Christmas tree

    Three Kinds of Holiday Financing You Should Avoid

    Because holiday spending is emotionally charged, it’s easy to get pulled into financial offers that seem helpful, but end up hurting you in the end. If you’re stretching yourself financially this season, keep an eye out for these three particularly worrisome financing options.
  • laptop with a "donate" button

    Best Online Fundraising Platforms

    There are plenty of reasons you may someday need to raise funds, from sudden medical emergencies to an exciting, new career path. Fortunately, there are plenty of platforms out there dedicated to helping you collect cash from a wide set of patrons. Here are our favorites and which are best for your particular needs.
  • opening a paycheck

    What the Payroll Tax Deferral Means for You

    A massive payroll tax deferral went into effect at the end of August, 2020. But did it affect you? Here's what you need to know, including how much your paychecks may have increased, where that money came from, and why you may have a smaller paycheck next year.
  • woman reviewing a loan rejection

    Why Having No Credit is the Same as Having Bad Credit

    Avoiding credit may seem like a smart way to save yourself from future hardships like debt and overspending, but it's much more likely to cause a different sort of hardship when you discover that having no credit is the same as having bad credit. Here's why developing a healthy relationship with credit is a much better goal than never using credit at all.
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  • The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is an association of nonprofit consumer organizations that was established in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy, and education. Today, nearly 300 of these groups participate in the federation and govern it through their representatives on the organization's Board of Directors.

  • Since 2007, the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) has served as a trusted, neutral source of information for more than eight million homeowners. They are partnered with, and endorsed by, numerous major government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury.

  • The mission of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD works to strengthen the housing market in order to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; and build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination.

  • The Council on Accreditation (COA) is an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. Their mission is to partner with human service organizations worldwide to improve service delivery outcomes by developing, applying, and promoting accreditation standards.

  • The National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), founded in 1951, is the nation’s largest and longest-serving nonprofit financial counseling organization. The NFCC’s mission is to promote the national agenda for financially responsible behavior, and build capacity for its members to deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.