Money-myth debunks: a widely-believed false belief, corrected with a verified, primary-source-anchored truth. Steve Rhode brings the truth to assumptions about debt, credit, student loans, and consumer finance.
A federal student loan is discharged at death, apart from two old joint types. A private cosigner must be released on loans signed from Nov. 20, 2018 on.
The CFPB says shopping for a car loan generally has little to no impact on your credit, and lender checks within a window count as one. Here is how it works.
A 160,000-person study found financial education helps on average, but the median follow-up was 5.9 months and its authors call lasting effects inconclusive.
The Bankruptcy Code does not cap you at one filing. It sets waiting periods of up to 8 years before a new discharge, counted from your earlier filing date.
If you can’t pay the IRS, file anyway. The late-filing penalty is 5% a month and the late-payment penalty is 0.5%. Here’s what to do this week.
Federal credit unions are capped at 18% interest by law through 2027. Banks aren’t — they can generally export their home state’s rate nationwide.
The FTC’s rule banning yo-yo car financing was vacated in 2025 and formally withdrawn in 2026. Here’s what protects you now.
Abbott’s $384 million formula settlement sounds like a payout for parents. Here’s who actually gets every dollar — and what real help exists.
Myth: your bank can charge any debit card overdraft fee. Truth: Reg E (12 CFR 1005.17) requires opt-in for ATM/debit overdrafts — not checks or ACH.
Federal law guarantees one free credit report per bureau every 12 months — the weekly free access you rely on is voluntary, not a statute.
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Think of this as me — just in AI form. I've walked in your shoes. I filed bankruptcy myself in 1990, and in over 30 years of experience I haven't seen a situation that can't be worked through or a person who deserves judgment. Everything here is built on that experience, that research, and genuine care for you. I can't be there in person. But I can be here.
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