After another year of employment stability, Washington economists predict more of the same in 2020. “We’ve continued to see pretty consistent growth and strong momentum, particularly in the Seattle metropolitan area,” says Anneliese Vance-Sherman, a regional labor economist with the state’s Employment Security Department. “I would expect to see the growth slow as a result of the unemployment rate being as low as it is, but so far, everything has pointed to a very stable and wide-reaching...

Credit repair is an achievable goal with a variety of options. Thanks to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), every consumer has the right to pursue credit repair themselves. You might be thinking: “If I can do it myself, why would I hire a credit repair company?” The answer to your question poses a long list of inquiries. While you have the option of DIY credit repair, few people realize the commitment and skill it requires until they have tried — and often, failed — to achieve it. Below...

National Consumer Protection Week is March 6-12. It’s a week dedicated to personal finance education, covering everything from credit and debt to identity theft and online scams. The initiative is sponsored by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), an agency established by the U.S. Congress “to protect consumers by carrying out federal consumer financial laws. Among other things, they: Write rules, supervise companies, and enforce federal consumer financial protection laws Restrict...

Credit repair takes determination and willpower, but what happens when those qualities aren’t paying off? It’s frustrating when credit improvement efforts fail to yield results, and you may be wondering what you’re doing wrong. In many cases, it’s more complicated than right or wrong. Read on to learn why your credit score isn’t improving. What you discover will help you on the path to stability. Your credit reports haven’t been updated. Once a change has been made to your account, it can...

Traveling is a passion for many, and unfortunately, the threat of credit card fraud and identity theft is higher for nomads. According to a survey from Experian’s ProtectMyID® division, 30 percent of travelers have been victims of identity theft or know someone who has. In 3 out of 10 cases, recovering lost funds can take more than a week. And money isn’t the only thing you risk. Credit damage and long-term identity theft can plunge your credit into the sub-prime or poor zone, raising your...