Articles - Page 13 of 68 - Financial Security for All

May 30, 2019May 13, 2020

Consumer Debt Repayment and Bankruptcy

Moorman, D. & Garasky, S. (2008) Consumer debt repayment behavior as a precursor to bankruptcy. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 29(2), 219-233.

Brief Description: This study explores the extent to which households seek bankruptcy protection without first attempting to restructure their debt or experiencing financial distress. As was expected, results indicate that a significant relationship exists between having prior financial problems and filing for bankruptcy. Households that obtained consolidation loans were equally likely to file for bankruptcy as …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Consumer Preferences for Car Loan Features

Wonder, N., Wilhelm, W., & Fewings, D. (2008). The financial rationality of consumer loan choices: revealed preferences concerning interest rates, down payments, contract length, and rebates. The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(2), 243-270.

Brief Description: This work studied consumer preferences for car loan features. The results revealed preferences that conflicted with traditional financial rationality. For example, participants avoided choosing long term (six- or seven-year) loans even when the interest rate was zero. In addition, the consumers, particularly those with …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Monthly Investment Message: January 2017

Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

oneill@aesop.rutgers.edu

January 2017

Catch-Up Retirement Planning

A recent article stated that baby boomers and younger generations face a “perfect storm” of retirement planning challenges: a financial squeeze on Social Security, pension plan underfunding, and inadequate savings-and often high expenses-in 401(k)s and similar defined contribution plans. What to do? For many people, the answer is catch-up retirement planning.

Even people in their 50s with little or nothing invested have opportunities …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Forbearance Plans for Credit Card Accounts

Agarwal, S., Chomsisengphet, S. & Mielnicki, L. (2008). Do forbearance plans help mitigate credit card losses? Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 29(2), 191-209.

Brief Description: Credit cards are the means of payment for millions of routine transactions, with the volume of credit card debt increasing dramatically in the last few years. This has led secondary market agencies, investors, and insurers of credit cards to employ forbearance options such as lengthening repayment terms, lowering interest rates, and permitting card …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Credit Card Ownership by High School Seniors

Scott, R. H., Jr. (2010). Credit Card Ownership Among American High School Seniors: 1997-2008. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 31, 151-160.

Brief Description: High school is when many students get their first credit cards. Jump$tart for Financial Literacy has tested the personal financial knowledge of high school students from across the U.S. since 1997. Using data from the Jump$tart surveys, this study compared the characteristics of various groups of high school students with and without credit cards. Students with …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Consumers’ Accuracy in Estimating their Credit Ratings

Perry, V. G. (2008), Is Ignorance Bliss? Consumer Accuracy in Judgments about Credit Ratings, The Journal of Consumer Affairs, 42(2), Summer, 189-205.

Brief Description: This study examines the accuracy of consumers’ self-assessments of their credit ratings. Findings suggest that approximately 32 percent of consumers overestimate their credit ratings while only 4 percent underestimate them. Those who overestimate their credit ratings are less knowledgeable about financial matters, are more likely to have acquired their financial knowledge from difficult past experiences, …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Monthly Investment Message: December 2016

Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

oneill@aesop.rutgers.edu

December 2016

Building Wealth: Strategies That Work

Most investors want to grow wealthy over time and have a comfortable lifestyle in later life. Investing can help get them there. Most people do not become wealthy from their earnings alone but, rather, by investing a portion of their income and letting it grow for several decades.

The goal of investing is to set aside money today with the goal …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Monthly Investment Message: November 2016

Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

oneill@aesop.rutgers.edu

November 2016

Diversification and Dollar-Cost Averaging: The Basics

Two time-tested investment strategies are diversification and dollar-cost averaging. Diversification means spreading your money among different types of investments (e.g., stocks, bonds, and cash equivalent assets such as CDs and money market funds) to reduce the risk of loss from a decline in any one investment.

There are a number of ways to diversify investments. Below are six frequently used …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021

Monthly Investment Message: October 2016

Barbara O’Neill, Extension Specialist in Financial Resource Management

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

oneill@aesop.rutgers.edu

October 2016

Seven Side Effects of Saving and Investing

An important result of saving and investing is having a sum of money available to use for emergencies or to fund future financial goals such as a vacation, new car, or retirement. With savings also comes peace of mind in knowing that you’re not on the “financial edge” with little or no money in reseve to handle negative life …

May 30, 2019March 23, 2021