Money

Pandemic economy: Americans richer, but wealth gap a roller coaster

Pandemic economy: Americans richer, but wealth gap a roller coaster

By Michael E. Kanell, The Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionTroy Warren for CNT #EditorsPicks #MoneyMost Americans have gotten wealthier during the pandemic, despite a deadly disease that upended the economy.But economic inequality, after narrowing in 2020, appeared to widen again in 2021 as the federal government’s massive financial rescue programs began winding down.What happens next to the size of the economic pie and how it gets sliced are open questions, even more so than in pre-pandemic times, amid greater uncertainty than normal.Soaring inflation is eroding Americans’ purchasing power and raising the threat of a recession that would hurt everyone’s economic fortunes. A surge…
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Fact or fiction: The IRS is tracking payments over $600 on Paypal and Venmo in 2022

Fact or fiction: The IRS is tracking payments over $600 on Paypal and Venmo in 2022

 | CNET.Com Troy Warren for CNT #Money You'll have to start keeping track of business income received through payment apps, but money from friends and family will not be taxed. If you own your own business or have a side hustle and get paid through digital apps like PayPal, Zelle, Cash App or Venmo, earnings over $600 will now be reported to the IRS. A provision from the 2021 American Rescue Plan, which went into effect on Jan. 1, directs third-party payment processors to report transactions received for goods or services totaling over $600 per year to the IRS.  Prior…
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Ted Turner to give Nebraskan land to nonprofit but keep paying taxes

Ted Turner to give Nebraskan land to nonprofit but keep paying taxes

By The Associated Press Troy Warren for CNT Media mogul and billionaire bison rancher Ted Turner is donating an 80,000-acre ranch he owns in western Nebraska to his own nonprofit agriculture ecosystem research institute and says he might do the same with four other ranches in Nebraska’s Sand Hills. But he’ll continue to pay taxes on the land, much to the relief of local officials and Nebraska leaders, the Omaha World-Herald reported Thursday. “I believe that local property taxes provide essential support for services on which our ranches and communities depend," Turner, 82, said in a news release last week announcing the new…
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Wells Fargo closing personal lines of credit

Wells Fargo closing personal lines of credit

By Rich Barak, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT Wells Fargo recently announced it will no longer offer personal lines of credit. Wells Fargo, a financial services company, said it has “decided to discontinue offering new Personal and Portfolio line of credit accounts and to close all existing accounts,” according to a CNBC report. Wells Fargo previously offered revolving credit lines, ranging from $3,000 to $100,000. In a letter to customers, Wells Fargo gave customers 60 days’ notice, according to reports. Customers no longer will have access to that line of credit once the 60-day period is over, but they will…
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U.S. watchdog hits Atlanta’s GreenSky over thousands of suspect loans

U.S. watchdog hits Atlanta’s GreenSky over thousands of suspect loans

By Matt Kempner, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Troy Warren for CNT CFPB consent order targets $9M in consumer loans, fines company $2.5M A federal watchdog agency has ordered an Atlanta-based financial technology company to pay a $2.5 million civil penalty and refund money to consumers after enabling contractors and other merchants to take out loans on behalf of thousands of consumers who didn’t authorize them. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a consent order requiring the company, GreenSky, to refund or cancel up to $9 million in loans for customers “harmed by its illegal conduct.” It also ordered the company to implement…
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Wells Fargo is shutting down all lines of personal credit

Wells Fargo is shutting down all lines of personal credit

Ry Crist | CNET.Com Troy Warren for CNT The bank warns customers that the account closures "may have an impact" on their credit scores. Wells Fargo told customers that it plans to shutter all lines of personal credit in the coming weeks, CNBC reported on Thursday. The bank reportedly sent a letter to customers saying it'll no longer offer the lines of credit, which range from $3,000 to $100,000 and serve to help fund things like home repairs and renovations or to consolidate credit card debt. The bank's letter to customers warned that account closures "may have an impact on your credit score," according to CNBC. Current…
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How to Use Your IRA to Buy a House

How to Use Your IRA to Buy a House

By Rachel Hartman | USNews.Com Troy Warren for CNT   If you're shopping for a new home, you may be looking for ways to fund the purchase. Taking out cash from a retirement account such as an IRA might be an option in some cases. However, before you withdraw money from an IRA, you'll want to evaluate the short-term and long-term consequences. Use the following criteria to help decide whether to use your IRA to buy a house. Should You Withdraw From an IRA to Buy a House? When you open an IRA, the account is established to help you save for the future.…
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Metro Phoenix’s housing market: What to know about buying, selling, renting

Metro Phoenix’s housing market: What to know about buying, selling, renting

Staff, Arizona Republic Troy Warren for CNT Prices for homes and apartments are rising higher and higher in the metro Phoenix area. Here's what homebuyers and renters need to know. Prices for homes and apartments are rising higher and higher in the metro Phoenix area. Prospective homebuyers are scrambling to find listings that fit their budgets as the number of properties for sale stays far below demand. Homeowners are happy as their equity rises, but affordability is a big concern in the market. The ability to work remotely has made Phoenix even more appealing for people who may have lived in less…
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