Why “Nonprofit” Credit Counseling Isn’t as Independent as You Think
A nonprofit credit counseling agency isn’t held to the same legal duty your doctor is. Here’s the accountability gap the 2006 reforms never closed — from someone who ran one.
Steve Rhode
Your Money Actually — A Free Newsletter From Steve Rhode
Your Money Actually is Steve Rhode’s free newsletter. The financial information the industry doesn’t want you to have — exposed hypocrisy, hidden math, and options nobody tells you about.
Medicare GLP-1 Coverage Is Coming — But the Financial Trap Between Now and Then Could Cost You Thousands
The Trump administration just signaled a shift on Medicare GLP-1 coverage. But policy changes take 60-90 days to reach your pharmacy. The most dangerous thing you can do right now is put that prescription on a credit card while you wait.
Tariffs Just Killed Jobs in Minnesota and Florida — Here Are the 3 Mistakes That Turn a Layoff Into a Debt Crisis
Tariff-driven layoffs hit Minnesota’s Iron Range and Florida’s Treasure Coast this week. The layoff isn’t what destroys people financially — it’s the three decisions they make in the first 30 days after. Here’s what to do instead.
P&G Just Warned Prices Are Going Up — Here Is the Part That Actually Hurts Your Budget
P&G just confirmed price increases on 25% of their products. The real danger isn’t the price tag — it’s when families put groceries on credit cards and a temporary price spike becomes permanent high-interest debt.
Is Your Debt Making You Depressed? What the Research Says — and a Free Way to Find Out
Is Your Debt Making You Depressed? What the Research Says — and a Free Way to Find Out Quick Answer: Research consistently shows that debt is strongly associated with depression. A screening my organization Myvesta ran in 2001 found that 49% of 136 debt counseling clients screened positive for depression symptoms on the CES-D — …
Why Jesus Would File for Bankruptcy: The Biblical Case for Debt Forgiveness
God commanded debt forgiveness every seven years. Jesus taught it as a spiritual principle. Modern bankruptcy mirrors these biblical laws so closely that legal historians trace U.S. bankruptcy law to Judeo-Christian foundations. Using bankruptcy to get a fresh start isn’t a sin — it’s a Jubilee.
Debt Equals Depression: The Research That Explains Why Debt Advice Fails
Quick Answer: Original Myvesta research found that 49.3% of 136 people in debt crisis screened positive for depression symptoms on the CES-D, and 39.7% scored in the severe range. This page long compared that to a 9.5% general-population figure and called it five times the rate; that comparison was wrong and I have corrected it …
How to Tell Your Partner About Hidden Debt
Steve Rhode and Damon Day tackle one of the hardest conversations in any relationship: telling your partner about debt you’ve been hiding. They share practical advice on timing, framing, and coming to the conversation with a solution — not just a confession. Plus: why higher-income Americans are suddenly drowning in debt, and why Forbes Advisor’s debt rankings are not what they appear to be.
College Review: Is It Worth It?
Quick Answer: College is worth it for most students, with over two-thirds of North Carolina graduates seeing positive 10-year returns according to Strada research. However, ROI depends critically on completion rates, debt levels, and field of study, as nearly 59% of non-completers default versus only 23% of graduates. WRAL’s North Carolina story is a useful …
