“…it is time for our financial system to change minimum payment amounts. The link between low minimums and prolonged indebtedness — and compromised financial health — is quite clear.” — Credit card holders in the U.S. typically must pay one percent of the principal balance plus interest and fees to stay current on their accounts. …

June is National Homeownership Month. Elise Nussbaum demystifies the homebuying process for aspiring first-time homebuyers in her latest guest post, The Home Stretch. — The Home Stretch: Tips for Purchasing Your First Home By Elise Nussbaum Home. It’s sweet, it’s where the heart is, it’s your castle, and there’s no place like it. Is it any wonder that the idea of owning our own home exerts such a strong pull on us? As a financial coach, I find that the vast majority of…

Aspen Institute leads a cross-sector coalition advocating for a Presidential Commission to create a national, interagency, financial inclusion strategy. — The Aspen Institute along with a cross-sector coalition of leading businesses, organizations, and academics are calling on the Biden Administration to establish a Presidential Commission to create a national, interagency, financial inclusion strategy:

“Given the connection between financial wellness and mental health, employers should consider offering financial coaching alongside their mental health resources,” says PwC’s Employee Financial Wellness Survey 2022. — Mental health in the workplace is front and center for employers nationwide because it’s a growing challenge for employees nationwide, especially Black/African-American and Latina/Latino/Latinx workers who are bearing the brunt of the pandemic’s myriad impacts on the job and at home.

The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle says “child care isn’t just a community imperative — it’s a business imperative. Creating a stronger workforce starts with meeting the needs of families.” Child care benefits are helping businesses and organizations to set themselves apart in the competition for workers. …

Adrianna Gregory offers guidance to protect your budget and your credit as you deal with medical expenses, whether you are waiting on the bill from a routine check-up or a trip to the emergency room. — This post is part of our ongoing series, “A Uniquely American Injustice,” on navigating medical debt and health expenses. Find all of our posts in the series here. By Adrianna Gregory At TrustPlus, we know that dealing with medical bills can be daunting. As Financial Coaches we often see the…

Guadalupe Credit Union credits financial coaching methodology and software platform, Pathways, in helping them make the case to policymakers. — In March, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 132 to lower the cap on small loan interest rates from 175% to 36%. “As we continue to grow our economy and create quality jobs for New Mexicans across the state, protecting New Mexico consumers remains critically important,”…

“A Uniquely American Injustice,” our new ongoing series, explores how to navigate medical debt and health expenses. — This is the first post in our new ongoing Personal Finance Coach series, “A Uniquely American Injustice,” on navigating medical debt and health expenses. By Dametria Douglas Yesterday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced complaints about medical debt collectors pursuing paid or not owed debt jumped 31% from 2018 to…

TrustPlus Personal Finance Coach Elise Nussbaum says the “beginning of spring is an excellent time to take stock of ways you can make your own life more pleasant, manageable, and secure” by planning for your tax refund and reviewing your credit report, spending, and beneficiaries. All too often, we put…