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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 […]
You’ve got a will for the house and the car. Good. But what about the stuff that actually runs your life—email, bank logins, bill-pay portals, cloud photo albums, a PayPal balance, your Shopify store, your phone’s password, that dusty Coinbase...
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You can feed a full house without making your card issuer fat and happy. The trick isn’t starving the table—it’s starving the waste. Why the Table Feels Pricier Every Year (Thanksgiving & Christmas) Let’s say the quiet part out loud:...
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Travel is where good budgets go to die. Prices spike, emotions run hot, and suddenly you’re financing nostalgia at 24% APR. This plan keeps the trip—and your balance—under control. Decide First: Fly, Drive, or Don’t Fly if time saved beats...
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You already know the punchline: they cost more than we planned—financially and emotionally. Between Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and everything in between, too many middle-class families overspend, carry a balance, and walk into January tired and in debt. Let’s put real...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...