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I. The Middle-Class Mirage Every few election cycles, the American middle class is asked to choose between its ideals and its interests. Too often, it chooses the wrong one. It rallies against unions that once secured its weekends, votes to cut unemployment benefits that could cushion its own job loss, and supports budget cuts that […]
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 […]
“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 to be the one to say, “This is too much.” Not because we don’t...
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 envelope system, and every service worker you actually rely on all year becomes top...
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 an economy where housing is expensive, groceries never went back down, debt is pricier,...
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 follows you longer than the dorm furniture. For too many people in the Financial...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Every year, somewhere between the first Christmas commercial and the last day of school before winter break, otherwise rational people lose their footing. You know exactly...
By MacKenzy Pierre
Americans can put more into 401(k)s, IRAs, and SIMPLE plans in 2026—and higher earners will see new Roth rules. Here’s what changed, who’s affected, and how...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
In October, lenders started the foreclosure process on more than 25,000 homes across the country — a jump of about 20% compared with a year earlier....
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Many Americans are earning more than ever, but far too many have almost nothing to show for it beyond bills, debt, and stress. Even as wages...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
If you’re sitting on a 3% mortgage right now, congratulations — and I’m sorry. Congratulations, because you locked in one of the best deals the American...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Introduction: A Tiny Coin, a Loud Message In February 2025, President Trump told Treasury to stop making new pennies, calling the coin wasteful because it cost...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
In the 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s team looked at a housing market full of short, risky mortgages and said: we’re going to redesign this so regular...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
Black and Hispanic workers who do everything right — enroll in their employer’s 401(k) or 403(b), contribute regularly and try to build for retirement — are...
By FMC Editorial Team
Introduction: The latest FICO® Score Credit Insights report shows something easy to miss if you only look at the headline number: yes, the national average score...
By Article Posted by Staff Contributor
There’s a quiet tax on the American middle class, and it’s not just the one you file in April — it’s the lifestyle tax. The pressure...
By MacKenzy Pierre
Every year, somewhere between the first Christmas commercial and the last day of school before...
Americans can put more into 401(k)s, IRAs, and SIMPLE plans in 2026—and higher earners will...
In October, lenders started the foreclosure process on more than 25,000 homes across the country...