Financial Tools Archives

11 Shady Tactics Companies Will Use to Offset Trump’s Tariff Charges

April 18, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

You’ll pay for the tariffs—just not in the way you expect.

When tariffs hit, companies don’t just absorb the cost and move on. They strategize, shift, and spin it in a way that keeps their profits intact—usually by passing the burden down to you without making it obvious. The price tag might not change overnight, but what you’re getting (and how much of it) quietly will. Businesses know that flat-out raising prices causes backlash, so instead, they play the game differently—and sometimes, pretty sneakily.

They’ll cut corners, disguise fees, repackage products, and even tweak their marketing just enough to hide what’s really going on. It’s all meant to make the impact feel invisible while you foot the bill. These 11 tactics aren’t just corporate tricks—they’re calculated moves designed to keep their numbers clean and your wallet lighter. If you notice prices staying “the same” during a trade war, look closer. The real cost is often buried under a glossy label or a shrunken package.

11 Wall Street Power Players Whose Greed Cost Them Everything

April 16, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

They had the yachts, the private jets, and the market’s attention—until it all blew up in their faces.

Greed isn’t new on Wall Street. It’s practically woven into the carpet of every high-rise office where risk is spun into gold—until it isn’t. These power players weren’t just wealthy; they were icons of excess. They dominated headlines, moved markets, and built empires on the belief that the rules didn’t apply to them. And for a while, they were right. But when the money train derailed, their downfalls were as spectacular as their rise.

Some lied. Some schemed. Some simply believed they were the smartest person in every room and made bets that finally caught up with them. But the common thread? Greed. Not ambition, not innovation—just raw, relentless appetite for more. More money, more power, more status. These 11 Wall Street giants lost everything, not because they didn’t know how to win, but because they didn’t know when to stop.

Before the Recession Hits—15 Financial Survival Move You Need to Make Now

April 15, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Waiting for the storm to hit is not a strategy—it’s a guarantee you’ll get soaked.

Recessions don’t announce themselves with fanfare. They creep in through layoffs, rising prices, shrinking paychecks, and headlines that get a little more alarming each week. By the time most people realize what’s happening, it’s already costing them. The good news is you don’t need to predict the exact moment a recession hits—you just need to be ready before it does. And that means making smart, fast adjustments while things still feel manageable.

Survival mode isn’t about panic. It’s about clarity, discipline, and making changes today that protect your options tomorrow. These 15 moves aren’t complicated, but they are crucial. They keep you liquid when others are stuck. They keep your stress lower, your flexibility higher, and your future intact no matter how rough things get. You don’t need to be rich to recession-proof your life. You just need to stop waiting and start moving.

The Money Circle— 9 Ways to Network Your Way to Better Financial Opportunities

April 15, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

Most people wait for luck, but the smart ones build a circle that keeps paying off.

Financial growth doesn’t always come from working harder. Sometimes, it comes from knowing the right people, asking the right questions, and being in the right rooms—at the right time. The money circle isn’t just a metaphor. It’s a real thing: the collection of people who either open doors or keep you stuck where you are. And building one doesn’t require wealth or status. It requires intentional connection.

The truth is, your network often shapes your net worth. It influences the jobs you hear about, the advice you get, and the confidence you carry into new opportunities. The good news? You don’t need to become some ultra-polished schmoozer to build a financial network. You just need to create genuine relationships, stay curious, and show up consistently. These nine strategies will help you build a circle that doesn’t just cheer you on—they help you move up.

Trump and Your Savings—10 Ways to Shield Your Money Before He Removes FDIC Protections

April 14, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

When political chaos meets financial policy, your money can get caught in the crossfire.

If the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that no institution is completely safe from political interference—including the ones that protect your money. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is supposed to guarantee that your cash in the bank is safe, up to a certain limit. But with another Trump presidency back on the horizon and ongoing debates around deregulation, privatization, and federal oversight, that protection could get watered down or reshaped in ways that leave regular people exposed.

That doesn’t mean it’s time to panic, but it is time to prepare. If the rules around FDIC coverage change—or if confidence in the system starts to erode—you’ll want to have more than just blind trust in place. These aren’t doomsday tips; they’re smart, practical ways to create your own financial safety net, even when leadership feels unpredictable. You can’t control how politicians handle federal protections, but you can make some key moves right now that will help you sleep better at night, no matter what headlines roll in.

The Secret Code of the Ultra-Rich—11 Tricks That They Never Talk About

April 2, 2025 by Riley Clendenin

the wealthiest play by a different set of financial rules—most of which you’ll never learn in school.

There’s a reason the ultra-rich seem to keep getting richer, no matter what’s happening in the economy. It’s not just luck, and it’s rarely about working harder. They operate in a completely different money universe—one where the game is rigged in their favor and the rules are buried under legal jargon, shell companies, and clever tax loopholes. While most people are focused on budgeting apps and cutting back on lattes, the wealthy are using quiet strategies to build and protect generational wealth.

These aren’t tips you’ll hear on mainstream finance blogs. These are tactics that stay behind closed doors, shared through elite networks and family offices. Some are perfectly legal, others push the line, but all of them give the rich a serious edge. If you’ve ever wondered how the wealth gap keeps growing, these 11 hidden money moves explain a lot more than anyone wants to admit.

Are Banks Evil? 11 Insane Credit Card APRs That Are Robbing Americans Blind

April 1, 2025 by James Clendenin

Credit cards are supposed to offer flexibility—not financial punishment.

Most people sign up for a credit card expecting a little breathing room: buy now, pay later, earn a few points. But behind the glossy ads and “no annual fee” banners, many cards are quietly draining wallets with shocking APRs that keep people stuck in debt for years. It’s not just a few shady companies, either—some of the biggest, most trusted banks are charging interest rates that would make payday lenders blush.

The worst part? These sky-high APRs often hit people when they can least afford them—during emergencies, job losses, or inflation spikes. A $200 grocery run can turn into $300 just because you carried the balance a month too long. These 11 credit cards are some of the worst offenders, charging rates so outrageous it’s hard to believe it’s even legal. If you’ve got one of these in your wallet, you’re not spending money—you’re leaking it.

11 Brilliant Debit Cards That Reimburse 100% of Your ATM Fees

March 24, 2025 by James Clendenin

Stop paying to access your own money when these debit cards cover your ATM fees.

Getting hit with an ATM fee is one of the most frustrating ways to waste money. Banks and third-party ATMs love to charge for withdrawals, turning what should be a simple transaction into an unnecessary expense. Some people try to avoid fees by only using their bank’s ATMs, but that’s not always practical—especially if you travel frequently or live in an area with limited options.

Luckily, not all banks are out to nickel-and-dime you. Some debit cards fully reimburse ATM fees, whether you’re withdrawing cash at home or abroad. That means you can access your money whenever and wherever you need it without worrying about getting charged. These 11 debit cards offer some of the best ATM fee reimbursements, helping you keep more of your hard-earned cash where it belongs—in your wallet.