News and Advice

Budget, Personal Loans

DOJ Drops Fed Renovation Probe, Clearing Path for Warsh Confirmation Before May 15

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The Department of Justice closed its investigation into the Federal Reserve’s Eccles Building renovations last week, removing the procedural obstacle that Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) had cited as the basis for blocking Kevin Warsh’s confirmation as Federal Reserve Chair from…

Mitch Strohm
April 27, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Final Hour Before the Fed: What Markets Are Telling Us About Tomorrow’s Decision

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Markets head into Wednesday’s Federal Reserve decision with a near-100% probability priced for a hold at 3.50%–3.75% (CME FedWatch shows 100% at the time of writing) and a 65% probability that rates stay where they are through the end of…

Jim Wang
April 27, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

FOMC Dissent Watch: What Miran’s Five Consecutive Dissents Tell Us About April 29

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Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran has now dissented at five consecutive FOMC meetings — September 2025, October 2025, December 2025, January 2026, and March 2026 — making him the most consistent rate-cut advocate on the Committee since being confirmed in…

Jim Wang
April 26, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

What a Fed Hold Means for Your Mortgage, Credit Cards, and Savings

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Markets price a 99.4% probability that the Federal Reserve will hold rates at 3.50%–3.75% on April 29, 2026 — meaning for most household financial decisions, your numbers don’t change on Wednesday afternoon. Specifically: the prime rate stays at 6.75%, your…

Mitch Strohm
April 24, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Will the Fed Cut Rates in June 2026? Reading the April Statement for Clues

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Markets currently price approximately a 36% probability of a 25 basis point Federal Reserve rate cut at the June 16–17, 2026 FOMC meeting, according to CME FedWatch — which means the base case is that rates stay unchanged at 3.50%–3.75%…

Laura Adams
April 23, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Will Kevin Warsh Replace Powell on May 15? Inside the Fed Chair Confirmation Standoff

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Update — April 27, 2026 The DOJ closed its investigation into the Federal Reserve’s Eccles Building renovations last week, removing the procedural obstacle Sen. Tillis had cited. Warsh’s confirmation is now expected to advance in early May, with a Senate…

Jim Wang
April 22, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

What to Watch at the April 2026 FOMC Meeting: 5 Things That Will Move Markets

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Update — April 22, 2026: Kevin Warsh’s confirmation hearing took place April 21, 2026 (the day this article was first published). His Senate confirmation is now uncertain — Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has vowed to block the nomination from leaving…

Mitch Strohm
April 21, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

Quantitative Tightening Explained: What QT Did, Why It Ended, and What Comes Next for Borrowing Costs

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Quantitative tightening (QT) is the process by which the Federal Reserve shrinks its balance sheet — letting Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities mature without reinvestment, which removes reserves from the banking system. The Fed ran a QT program from June…

Jim Wang
April 19, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

What Is the Fed Beige Book? The Anecdotal Report That Shapes FOMC Decisions

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The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book is a qualitative report on regional economic conditions across the United States, compiled from interviews with business contacts in each of the 12 Federal Reserve Districts and published eight times per year — roughly two…

Laura Adams
April 19, 2026

Budget, Personal Loans

CD vs HYSA: When to Lock and When to Stay Liquid in a Falling-Rate Environment

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A high-yield savings account (HYSA) and a certificate of deposit (CD) both pay materially more than a traditional bank savings account, but they protect against different risks. An HYSA pays a variable rate that can change at any time —…

Mitch Strohm
April 19, 2026