When visiting a financial adviser for consultation about retirement savings one might assume those counselors have their best interests in mind. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. To better ensure consultants are working for consumers and not for fees, the Labor Department will propose new rules to increase standards for brokers who recommend investments for retirement accounts. [More]
new rules
New Rules Change The Way Non-Profit Hospitals Handle Low-Income Patients’ Debts
By 1.12.15
While some hospitals work to assist patients in paying their unexpected and often expensive medical bills, other institutions have been known to employ aggressive tactics that harshly penalize patients who are unable to pay their medical debts. However, the adoption of new federal rules aims to change the way in which non-profit hospitals handle consumers and their debts. [More]
New DoD Protections Aim To Keep Shady Businesses From Taking Advantage of Military Members
By 11.21.14
Members of the military — particularly younger members from lower-income backgrounds — are too often the target of shady, predatory businesses looking to take advantage of their youth and inexperience with finances. The Military Lending Act offers some protections, but these operators find ways to get around the law. On Friday, the U.S. Dept. of Defense took steps to eliminate some of those exploitations by creating reforms to the current military discretionary allotment system. [More]
This Subway Meatball Isn't For Kids!
By 6.7.10
It’s great that everyone’s concerned about keeping kids healthy and all, but Jay says the woman working at his local Subway put her foot down on his request for a meatball sandwich for his kid. He says she told him, “You can get ham or turkey but no meatball.” Kids don’t need meatballs! [More]
Get Ready To Disclose A Lot More Information When Applying For Credit
By 1.13.10
The downside to responsible lending is that the lenders will need more information about you, says the WSJ. [More]
Pay Off Your Credit Card Debt? Or Stockpile Cash?
By 4.6.09
Personal finance guru Suze Orman is changing her tune about credit card debt. Before unemployment reached a 26-year high — nearly every expert advised people to pay down their credit card debt before starting an emergency fund. Now it seems that the advice has changed.
Fix Your Clocks: End Of Daylight Savings Time Isn't Until November 4th
By 10.29.07
If your electronics mistakenly reset themselves standard time yesterday, you’d better fix them. Daylight Savings Time is set to end one week later than usual (on November 4th), due to a law change.
Park Rules Prohibit "Unlicensed Guns" In State That Doesn't License Guns
Here’s a problem for the Lackawanna County park system: They’ve passed new rules that prohibit “unlicensed firearms.” Sounds reasonable until you notice that the park is in Pennsylvania where they apparently don’t license guns.
Awkward! [More]