REVEALED: 4 - The Real Truth

7 Bank Accounts Worth Rechecking After the FDIC’s Latest National Rate Update

A bank account can sit quietly for years while the interest rate attached to it changes around it. That makes the FDIC’s latest national rate update a useful excuse to revisit where cash actually lives, especially when a familiar account may now look less attractive than it did when it…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 9

A 30-Point Credit Score Increase Took 10 Months — Here’s What Actually Changed

A 30-point credit score increase sounds impressive until the calendar enters the picture. In this case, the improvement took 10 months, and that slow pace reveals something important about credit scores: meaningful progress usually comes from a string of small, repeatable decisions rather than one dramatic financial makeover.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 9

IRS Opens 2027 Corporate Tax Compliance Program — Applications Due October 30

Large corporations interested in resolving federal tax issues with the IRS before filing their returns have a limited window to apply for a program designed to do exactly that. The Internal Revenue Service announced on September 8 that it is accepting applications for the 2027 Compliance Assurance Process, commonly known…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 9

The SEC Says Fake Investment Firms Used Government Filings to Look Legitimate—Here’s the Trick Investors Need to Know

A government website can make almost anything look more official than it really is, and scammers have figured that out. The Securities and Exchange Commission recently warned that dozens of entities used SEC filings to create the appearance of legitimate investment firms, giving potential victims something that looked reassuringly official…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

7 Bank-Safety Red Flags Emerging After FDIC Banks Posted $90.1B in Quarterly Profits

The nation’s FDIC-insured banks just posted $90.1 billion in net income for the second quarter of 2026, a 12% jump from the previous quarter. That sounds like excellent news for the banking industry, and it is, but a healthy industry does not automatically mean every bank customer has a perfectly…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

Your Credit App Says 740. The Lender Says 705. Which Score Is Right?

A credit app flashes a cheerful 740, then a lender pulls a 705, and suddenly the numbers look like they came from two completely different financial universes. The good news: neither number necessarily means something went wrong, and the lower score does not automatically mean the lender made a mistake.…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 8

How Much Money Should You Actually Keep in Your Checking Account?

A checking account should make everyday life easier, not turn into a mysterious pile of money that grows without a purpose. For many households, the right balance covers upcoming bills, routine spending, and a little breathing room without leaving a giant chunk of cash sitting idle.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 7

You Have $100,000 in Home Equity and $25,000 in Credit Card Debt. Should You Tap the House?

Having $100,000 in home equity and $25,000 in credit card debt creates a tempting mathematical shortcut: Borrow against the house, wipe out the cards, and move on. On paper, the idea can look almost suspiciously tidy, especially when a home equity loan or HELOC offers a lower interest rate than…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 7

Your Credit Score Dropped. How Long Will It Take to Get Those Points Back?

A credit score can fall surprisingly fast, sometimes after a single change that seemed harmless at the time. The good news: a lower score does not automatically mean months or years of financial misery, because the recovery clock depends on what caused the drop.

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 7

Retirement Limits That Changed in 2026 That Savers Still Have Time to Use

Retirement contribution limits changed in 2026, and some savers could still have room to take advantage of those higher limits before the year disappears into the rearview mirror. Workers can put more into many workplace retirement plans, IRA savers get a larger annual limit, and older workers have more room…

The Free Financial Advisor · Sep 6