The latest on the Capital One data breach, dodgy financial aid loopholes, and fake money experts

The latest on the Capital One data breach, dodgy financial aid loopholes, and fake money experts



Here are my favorite personal finance reads from around the web this week.

 

Capital One data breach compromises personal info from 100 million applications

—PBS NewsHour

This week, Capital One announced that a hacker had gained access to personal information, including credit scores and Social Security numbers, from more than 100 million credit applicants. It’s just one of several recent major breaches, prompting companies to beef up security, and causing people to pay more attention to identity theft.

College financial-aid loophole: Wealthy parents transfer guardianship of their teens to get aid

—Wall Street Journal

The Education Department is investigating a recent tactic used by several Illinois parents: Transferring legal guardianship of their teenage children to allow the kids qualify for more financial aid. The ethically questionable strategy means less aid and resources for middle-class and lower-income families.

How this fake financial expert tricked outlets into publishing her advice

—Huffington Post

A “financial planner” named Patricia Russell, claiming to be fully licensed and with several prestigious degrees, had her advice featured in several news outlets. But a journalist did some all-too-brief digging into her background. Spoiler alert: There is no Patricia Russell.

What’s the true cost of a breakup? A cautionary tale about splitting expenses with a significant other

—Money

When a long-term relationship ends, people must figure out how to untangle themselves not only emotionally, but also financially. This writer broke down the pain points of her breakup and what it had cost her.

Craving more financial finds? Here are my latest blog posts!

You took a lower-paying job on purpose. Now what?

Career paths aren’t always linear and sometimes you may find yourself having to take a pay cut at your next job. This graphic designer whose income dropped by 50% explains how that affected his financial life.

Money Genius goes on a world tour

It’s been two and a half years since my New York Times bestseller, Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You’re Not) was released. Since then, six more editions have been published internationally and more are on the way.

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