Advocacy

• The state of states’ financial literacy efforts explained, and NGPF Bill tracker mentioned. (CNBC)

Personal Finance

• There are many myths floating around about what happens to a couple’s credit when they marry. This sets the record straight. (PRNewswire)
• Speaking of couples, the Fidelity 2021 Couples and Money Study was released and is full of interesting stats. Communication is key, (and maybe counseling would help?)
• The pandemic made people totally reevaluate their financial lives, and financial independence became more important for more people. (NYT)

Financial Scams

• Scammers target vulnerable people. This Social Security scam is ugly and based on intimidation. Keep your older family members safe. (WAPO)

Economics

• June CPI came out this week, showing an increase of 5.4% over last year, the biggest increase in 13 years. Once again, used car prices drove a chunk of the increase, as did restaurant and hotel prices. (NYT) But some component prices, while higher than 2020, are still not back to 2019 levels. (WSJ)

• Retail sales moved up unexpectedly in June, after falling in May. (CNBC)
• The latest figures on the budget deficit show a narrowing from this month last year (taxes up, outlays down compared to last year), but we are on track for a near record deficit, just under last year’s. (Marketwatch)

Investing

• Retail investors has totally changed how stocks are actually priced. (Knowledge@Wharton)
• AMC, a well-known example of a meme stock, saw a huge price drop this week. Oops. (CNBC)
• 20% of venture capital raised this past quarter has gone into FinTech. Read about this and other global venture capital trends. (Morning Brew)

Cryptocurrency

• More doubt is cast on the future of cryptocurrency as bitcoin minors in rural China are disappearing after government attempt to shut them down. (The Economist)

Taxes

• 21 states will have sales tax holidays in coming weeks to help families prepare for back to school. (Don’t Mess With Taxes)
• Child tax credit checks were hitting the mail/bank accounts of families beginning July 15. Why there is hope this will bring millions of children out of poverty. (WAPO)
• July 15 was big in the tax world for another reason as well--the IRS is getting back to the business of enforcement and collection of taxes. (Don’t Mess With Taxes2)

Budgeting/Managing Credit

• Buy now, pay later plans are the rage now. Apple and Goldman Sachs are getting into the game now. (Bloomberg)

About the Author

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

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