Angelica Leicht

1 day ago | cbsnews.com | Melanie Lockert |Angelica Leicht

The school year has ended and summer vacation is here. While it can be a time to relax and enjoy a break from your studies, getting your student loan financing in order now to prepare for the fall 2025 college semester can be a smart move. Whether you're entering college for the first time or enrolling for another year, paying for your tuition costs and fees is crucial to continuing your education without any interruptions or hurdles.

3 days ago | cbsnews.com | Angelica Leicht |Matt Richardson

In today's unusual economy, lenders are keeping a closer eye on risk. While inflation is cooling and interest rates may be on the way down, consumers are still carrying historically high levels of credit card debt — more than $1.18 trillion currently, according to the New York Fed. Credit card delinquencies and defaults are also rising. And for credit card issuers, that means tightening the reins a bit. One way they do that? Reducing customers' credit limits.

3 days ago | cbsnews.com | Melanie Lockert |Angelica Leicht

The Federal Reserve is dealing with a delicate balancing act, trying to do what's necessary to lower inflation without wreaking havoc on the economy. In pursuit of those economic goals, the Fed has maintained the federal funds rate at its current level throughout 2025 to counteract the inflation that has plagued Americans over the past several years. While the hope is that this strategy will smooth things out in the long term, borrowers are bearing the brunt of this choice in the short term.

3 days ago | cbsnews.com | Melanie Lockert |Angelica Leicht

The average home equity amount currently stands at $313,000, according to the March 2025 Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Mortgage Monitor report. Homeowners who want flexible access to financing can turn to a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which leverages their existing home equity and turns it into a line of credit that can be drawn from as an affordable financing option. For more than a year, HELOC interest rates have been steadily decreasing, even reaching a two-year low at one point.

4 days ago | cbsnews.com | Angelica Leicht |Matt Richardson

As retirement approaches, many Americans find that traditional savings strategies may not be enough to keep up with today's financial realities. From unpredictable market swings to the lingering effects of inflation on groceries, housing and healthcare, it's getting harder to stretch every dollar in the current economic landscape, and that's especially true for those who are no longer earning a paycheck.