Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

Why A Hedge Fund Guru Calls This Weight Loss Company a Pyramid Scheme

Investing / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / Bill Ackman, Herbalife, Pyramid Schemes

Herbalife is a multi-level marketing company that sells weight loss products and nutritional supplements. On the surface, there’s nothing illegal about that. But one prominent investor, hedge fund guru Bill Ackman, is convinced that Herbalife is a scam. According to Ackman, who runs an $11 billion hedge fund called Pershing Square, Herbalife is actually a “pyramid scheme.” […]

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Shocking Tax Fact: Claim This One Tax Credit and The IRS Will Almost Certainly Audit You

1 Comment / Taxes / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / adoption tax credit, IRS Form 8839, Qualified Adoption Expenses

Most Americans dread the prospect of being audited by the IRS. But the truth is that IRS audits actually happen very rarely. According to IRS data, only about 1% of the nation’s 150 million taxpayers get audited annually. So the odds are pretty good that you won’t face an IRS audit in any given year. But those

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Young man wearing a black shirt and jeans, pulling out his empty pockets with a surprised expression, clearly struck by holiday debt.

7 Tips for Paying Holiday Debt When You’re Broke (or Want to Keep Your Cash)

Debt / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / holiday debt

Let’s be real: Those holiday bills have rolled in and now you’re wondering how to best pay off holiday debt, right? Well, to get rid of holiday debt you have numerous options, but they all depend on your cash flow and your credit. Here’s a look at seven strategies to eliminate holiday debt and get

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How to Survive a Rent Increase

Personal Finance / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / National Association of Realtors, rent increase, rent prices, Renting

Apartment rents are expected to rise for the fifth year in a row as the economy continues to improve. According to the latest reports from the National Association of Realtors, rent prices in the U.S. increased by 5.5% nationally in 2021, and are projected to increase by 4.4% in 2022 and 4.2% in 2023. This

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Green highway sign with the words "Bright Future" and three upward-facing arrows against a clear blue sky, urging travelers to steer away from the looming threat of a fiscal cliff.

Americans Becoming More Optimistic About Economy Despite Fiscal Cliff Drama

Personal Finance / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / 2013 Outlook survey, Barack Obama, Fiscal Cliff, Government

If all the hand wringing in recent months over the “fiscal cliff” had you worried about the economy and your own personal finances, you’re not alone. We all know that 2012 was a tough financial year. And Congress didn’t make it any easier when it took forever but finally passed a deal in early January

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FTC Busts Bogus Debt Counseling Company

Scams / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / debt counseling, Financial Scams

The Federal Trade Commission has busted yet another operation that preyed upon cash‑strapped consumers who were seeking relief from their credit card debts.

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A white piggy bank with a graduation cap sits on a surface covered in five-dollar bills featuring Abraham Lincoln, capturing the nostalgic savings spirit of baby boomers.

Survey Shows Baby Boomers Put Kids’ College Costs Ahead of Retirement

Retirement / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / Baby Boomers, Financial Finesse Survey, Generation X

Yet another study shows us the ways in which Baby Boomers and those with children are sacrificing their retirement for the sake of paying for college costs for their offspring.

Survey Shows Baby Boomers Put Kids’ College Costs Ahead of Retirement Read More »

A woman holding scissors smiles while a man beside her laughs, both interacting with another person facing away from the camera, celebrating their journey out of debt.

6 Ways to Get Out of Debt Now

Debt / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / debt free

Becoming debt-free is an admirable financial goal, but one that is a big struggle for many Americans. Let’s face it: some people who are now starting to get credit card bills from their December spending are also still paying off holiday debt from a year ago. Even if you’re not among those folks, you probably

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Precious Metals Dealers Charged $24 Million in Settlement with FTC

Scams / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / precious metals scams

The Federal Trade Commission has charged some precious metal dealers for conning consumers into buying precious metals on credit without disclosing all of the costs and risks involved with the transaction.

Precious Metals Dealers Charged $24 Million in Settlement with FTC Read More »

Eyeglasses rest atop a credit scoring report, highlighting a letter regarding a recent application denial and the impact of your FICO credit score.

Get Your FICO Credit Score Free and Help Your Credit Rating

Credit Scores / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / credit monitoring, FICO credit score, MyFICO, trial offer

Checking your FICO credit score at least once a year is a good way to stay on top of your credit rating. That’s why you may be happy to learn that myFICO.com – the consumer website of Fair Isaac, creator of the FICO score – is offering you the opportunity to get your FICO score

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Stolen Credit Cards Used to Buy 85 iPads Worth $50,000

Identity Theft / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / credit card fraud

Two men have been accused of using stolen credit cards to purchase high priced electronics like iPads. The iPads were then resold for cash. Police say the men are are part of a large-scale credit card fraud operation that hit Target stores in Illinois. The suspects, who were under surveillance, were nabbed after they made

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The 3 Smartest, Best Gifts to Give Someone You Love This Holiday Season

Personal Finance / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach

This holiday season, your husband, kid or best friend doesn’t need yet another gadget, toy or sweater. So why fall for all the holiday marketing hype promoted by retailers this time of year? Instead, consider giving someone you love another type of gift – one that will have enduring value for a lifetime.

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A person dressed in a blue suit with red and white striped cuffs hangs by a rope from the edge of a fiscal cliff against a backdrop of a clear blue sky with some clouds.

The Fiscal Cliff Explained: What the Fiscal Cliff Means to Your Finances

1 Comment / Personal Finance / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / Fiscal Cliff

There’s been a lot of talk in Washington D.C. and in the media about the so-called “fiscal cliff.” But what exactly is the fiscal cliff and how will impact you and your family? Let me offer a definition of the fiscal cliff and provide some context about how this issue will directly affect your finances.

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A credit application form lies on a desk alongside a pair of glasses, a pen, and a partially visible laptop, an essential first step to build credit.

At What Age Can Your Kid Start to Build Credit? The Surprising Answer

Family Finances / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / building credit, FAFSA, Kids and Money

Most of us know that you have to be at least 18 years old in order to sign a legally binding contract. But did you know that, under specific circumstances, your teenager could actually start to build credit and improve their credit rating prior to age 18?

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Important Car Lease Terms You Should Know

Loans / Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach / auto loans, car lease

Ads enticing you to buy or lease new cars are everywhere during the holiday season and into the new year. But not everyone can afford to pay cash for a vehicle or finance one — especially since the average monthly car loan payment in 2012 was $462, and the average price of an automobile has risen to

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Author name: Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach