Al Lewis

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If you’re behind on your federal student loans, this year is pivotal.
It’s the first year since the pandemic began – including the three-plus years when all loan bills were suspended — that not paying counts against your credit score. And borrowers who are 90 days or more overdue on payments could see a significant hit, researchers from the New York Federal Reserve Bank said this week.
In some cases, ...

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If you’re an investor, watching your retirement savings or investment portfolio lose value can be pretty unsettling. But it’s vital to remember that losses aren’t realized until you sell or trade — and that a downturn opens up potential opportunities, too.
It’s been a tough few weeks for the U.S. stock market, with the S&P 500 Index briefly falling into correction territory on fears of an economic dow...

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Funny how our least precious currency has woven its way into our vernacular, sometimes symbolizing something quite valuable.
A penny for your thoughts? That dates back to the 1500s when the British penny was worth a lot more — or at least enough that the offer made sense.
That cost me a pretty penny. Again, mucho dinero.
Would we still use these phrases if the penny didn’t exist, though?
Last month, P...

As the president pushes to close down the U.S. Department of Education, it’s creating a lot of confusion about the status of the federal student loan system. Some borrowers have even questioned whether they have to keep making their payments.
In short, if you have federal student loans, stay the course. Keep up with your payments and don’t make any assumptions while the government is in flux.
Yes, President Donald Trump has said he hopes Linda McMahon, his nominee for Education Secretary, wil...

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President Donald Trump is playing hardball with our nation’s largest trading partners, imposing new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China in an effort to staunch the flow of drugs and illegal immigrants.
Whether you approve of his motives or not, few dispute that the new tariffs — additional taxes imposed on foreign importers — could be passed on to consumers, raising prices that are already painfully high.
Things like cars, food, gasoline, and building materials could all get more expens...

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For most Americans, the cost of buying a house has felt pretty prohibitive these past couple of years.

Property prices haven’t recovered from the pandemic buying frenzy, and mortgage rates — which had been the more affordable part of the equation not that long ago — have shot back up toward 7%.

Rents, on the other hand, are finally starting to ease. Thanks to a boom in new construction, the median asking rent on rental units (apartments and houses with up to 2 bedrooms) has dipped below...

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If you’re thinking about buying a house, you’re no doubt hoping mortgage rates will come down. Inflation has eased, and the Federal Reserve has started cutting its benchmark interest rate, right?
Yes, but the benchmark fed funds rate is not what drives mortgage rates — not directly anyway. And since the Fed’s last rate cut in December, the average 30-year mortgage rate has actually ticked higher, topping 6.9%, according to the latest national survey by Freddie Mac. This makes buying eve...

CHICAGO—Illinois has been a freight hub since its earliest beginnings, from waterways to rails to interstate highways, to modern intermodal transportation centers, and more recently, to an unprecedented proliferation of warehouses to satisfy the demands of online shoppers.
Increasingly, warehouses crop up beside neighborhoods, exposing residents to the exhaust fumes of starting, stopping and idling trucks. Diesel plumes impose a host of public health threats, including low birth rates, respir...

An entrepreneur’s dream often begins with a problem. For Zain Shauk, it was wilted lettuce. When Shall moved to Houston in 2010, he found the packaged, pre-washed produce lacking. “I’d get home and I’d open the container and it was already steamy and slimy, and I’d say, ‘What gives?’”

Robert Kaplan, under fire for his financial dealings during the pandemic, ended his six-year tenure as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas on Friday. His departure leaves behind questions of who will be his long-term successor and challenges the credibility of the Federal Reserve.

Hedge Fund AUM grew to an all-time high of nearly $4 trillion in Q3’21, driven by returns over more than 10% and inflows totaling $24 billion. (This assignment included writing an article, as well as copy for an email, digital advertising and social media.)

From rough beginnings, Craig Taylor has thrived. Today, he’s CEO of a Houston holding company with more than 400 employees, more than 250 customers and about $90 million in annual revenue.

ExxonMobil stock has risen more than 56% this year, with more promise to come. The company's strong cash flow ensures a strong dividend stream and backs a stock repurchase plan. Oil demand keeps rising despite challenges from climate change initiatives.

The world's largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot (NYSE:HD), has been one of the shining stars of the pandemic recovery, delivering a return of nearly 40% so far in 2021. But can it keep going now that its stock is hitting new all-time highs?

Key Points
Goldman Sachs analysts declared the U.S. economy all but recession proof - it wasn’t.
The problem with economic forecasts is that they can’t anticipate unforeseen events like the coronavirus pandemic.
Economists debate whether the U.S. is truly headed for a recession, but economic pain is already here.
Goldman Sachs’ economists declared the U.S. economy all but recession-proof at the dawning of 2020, but now it appears a coronavirus-induced recession may have begun just a few month...