Huffington Post Op-Ed: Hard-Working Americans Who Play By the Rules Deserve Retirement Security
Doctors have a sworn obligation to put the best interests of their patients’ above all other interests, including their own. Lawyers have a professional responsibility to protect the best interests of their clients above any other interests, including their own. But, remarkably, financial advisers are allowed to recommend products to unsuspecting customers that are a great deal for the adviser, but not for the person seeking advice. While most advisors put their clients’ interests first, some do not, and there has been no law to stop them. That has cost Americans an estimated $17 billion annually, and, to most people, makes no sense at all.
TalkPoverty.org Op-ed: Why Seniors- Not CEOs- Deserve a Raise
Any conversation about tackling poverty in the United States should include protecting and expanding Social Security. The reason is pretty straightforward: Social Security is the most powerful tool available to lift people out of poverty.
Boston Globe Op-Ed: How to level the playing field for working families
I GRADUATED FROM law school nine months pregnant with my second baby – and 100 percent unemployable. In 1976, no law firm was going to offer a job to a woman in my “condition,” and even if it did, it was perfectly legal to fire me for taking time off when my son was born.
New York Times Op-Ed: One Way to Rebuild Our Institutions
WASHINGTON – WHILE presidential candidates from both parties feverishly pitch their legislative agendas, voters should also consider what presidents can do without Congress. Agency rules, executive actions and decisions about how vigorously to enforce certain laws will have an impact on every American, without a single new bill introduced in Congress.
Worcester Telegram & Gazette Op-Ed: Learning to cut child poverty
Last month, Congress took a step to help millions of children escape poverty.
CNN.com Op-Ed: Give Social Security recipients a CEO-style raise
On Veterans Day we recognize and honor the sacrifices our service members and their families make for our country. We owe our service members the very best, but unless Congress acts, on January 1 more than 9 million veterans who rely on Social Security benefits or pension and compensation benefits will not get their annual cost of living increase.
Huffington Post Op-Ed: The Banking Industry's Transparent Attempt to Weaken the CFPB
You’ll never guess who’s going around Washington, trolling the halls of Congress, talking about the importance of protecting the long-term health of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Credit.com Op-ed: It’s Time to Stop Employer Credit Checks
Bad credit can happen for a lot of reasons, but today many people have bad credit through no fault of their own. Illness, job loss, divorce or the death of a loved one can plunge a family into unexpected hard times. In difficult circumstances like these, a drop in income or taking on more debt can badly damage a credit report—even for a person who continues to make every payment on time.
Worcester Telegram & Gazette Op-ed: Making higher education affordable for all
Students all across Massachusetts are off to college. It’s an exciting time, but for many families it also means confronting the exploding cost of higher education. Even adjusted for inflation, a family trying to send a son or daughter to a state school today will face tuition prices that are more than 300 percent of what mom or dad paid a generation ago. High prices are forcing more students and their parents to take on mountains of debt just to get a degree.
As each family struggles to shoulder a bigger debt load, the cumulative impact is felt throughout our economy. The Federal Reserve, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Treasury Department have all warned that high levels of student loan debt are holding back many young people from buying homes, starting businesses, and making the kinds of purchases that push the economy forward.
USA Today Op-Ed: Sabotage in your IRA
It’s hard – really hard – to save for retirement. And the stats bear this out: Almost one-third of Americans on the edge of retirement have zero savings. Another third have saved less than one year’s income.