Stacy Johnson CPA

I'm the founder of Money Talks News and have spent the last 40+ years in the personal finance trenches. I'm a CPA, author of a few books and multiple Emmy recipient. I'm married to a woman I don't deserve, have an awesome dog and live on the water in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

21 Things You Should Never Pay For
21 Things You Should Never Pay For

on October 5, 2012

While the best things in life are always free, so is lots of other stuff. If you want to find some extra money in your budget, stop paying for things you could get for nothing.

Name Our Latest Addition and Win a T-Shirt!
Name Our Latest Addition and Win a T-Shirt!

on October 5, 2012

We’re trying to name our latest consumer resource. Offer an opinion and you might win a T-shirt guaranteed to turn heads.

Ask Stacy: Is It Legal for Banks to Stack the Deck?
Ask Stacy: Is It Legal for Banks to Stack the Deck?

on October 2, 2012

For years it’s been common practice for banks to clear checks and debit card transactions to maximize overdraft charges. Is it legal?

Ask Stacy: Is Peer-to-Peer Lending a Pyramid Scheme?
Ask Stacy: Is Peer-to-Peer Lending a Pyramid Scheme?

on September 25, 2012

Peer-to-peer lending is all the rage, and for good reason: It offers borrowers access to low-cost money and investors high-interest returns. But what if it’s all a Ponzi scheme?

JetBlue Offers Free Wi-Fi
JetBlue Offers Free Wi-Fi

on September 21, 2012

Finally an airline has recognized that offering something free – that travelers want, no less – might be a great idea.

Non-Working Spouses Finally Get Some Credit
Non-Working Spouses Finally Get Some Credit

on September 21, 2012

If you’re a non-working spouse, thanks to the CARD act, getting your own credit card could prove challenging. That might be about to change.

Post Office Says Offices Aren’t Drive-Throughs
Post Office Says Offices Aren’t Drive-Throughs

on September 21, 2012

At least eight cars have crashed into post offices this year in just central Florida alone. The USPS offers useful advice to keep your wheels out of their lobbies.

Ask Stacy: Are We Heading Toward a Fiscal Cliff?
Ask Stacy: Are We Heading Toward a Fiscal Cliff?

on September 18, 2012

Unless Congress acts, $600 billion of spending cuts and tax hikes will take effect in 2013. It could derail the economy and tank the stock market. This reader is worried about what’s going to happen. So am I.

Ask Stacy: Can I Protest Bad Marks to Improve My Credit Score?
Ask Stacy: Can I Protest Bad Marks to Improve My Credit Score?

on August 21, 2012

You can improve your credit history and score by disputing negatives. But there’s a catch…

What I’ve Learned From 20 Years of Personal Finance
What I’ve Learned From 20 Years of Personal Finance

on August 20, 2012

I’ve written and produced 3,000 personal finance TV news stories, written countless articles, and learned things along the way, including some you’re unlikely to read elsewhere.

How Much House Can You Afford?
How Much House Can You Afford?

on August 15, 2012

There are few purchases more costly, or emotional, than buying a home. Here’s how to do the math to see what you can afford, workarounds if you don’t have enough, and a reminder to keep your ego on the sidelines.

Ask Stacy: Help! They’re Wrecking My Credit!
Ask Stacy: Help! They’re Wrecking My Credit!

on August 7, 2012

“The man representing himself in court has a fool for a client.” This expression also applies to those representing themselves when dealing with collection agencies.

Ask Stacy: How Can I Watch TV Without Cable?
Ask Stacy: How Can I Watch TV Without Cable?

on July 31, 2012

Can you cut the cable and ditch the dish without sacrificing selection? Yes. And there’s more than one way to do it.

The LIBOR Scandal for Dummies
The LIBOR Scandal for Dummies

on July 23, 2012

The unfolding LIBOR scandal may make Bernie Madoff look like a Girl Scout. If you haven’t taken the time to understand it, you should. Madoff catered to a handful of wealthy investors, but this outrage may have affected millions worldwide – including you.

Online Mortgage and Rate Searches: The Big Lie?
Online Mortgage and Rate Searches: The Big Lie?

on July 20, 2012

If you rely on online interest rate searches to give you the best rates on savings accounts, mortgages, car loans, or credit cards, you really need to read this.

Ask Stacy: How Can We Lower Our Mortgage Payments?
Ask Stacy: How Can We Lower Our Mortgage Payments?

on July 17, 2012

If you can refinance a $200,000, 30-year mortgage from 7 percent to 4 percent, you’ll end up $135,000 richer. But refinancing these days is a minefield. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could pick up the phone and call an expert for free help to get it done? As it happens, you can. Here’s some advice and an 800 number.

Ask Stacy: How Do I Stop Collection Agency Calls?
Ask Stacy: How Do I Stop Collection Agency Calls?

on July 10, 2012

This reader gets harassed by collection agencies seeking other people with the same name. But whether collection calls are legitimate or not, here’s how to make them stop.

6 Steps to Your Personal Independence Day
6 Steps to Your Personal Independence Day

on July 4, 2012

As you celebrate our nation’s independence day, maybe you should be thinking of your own. Are you getting closer to financial freedom? If not, here are some tips that will take you there.

Ask Stacy: Can I Drop My Health Insurance?
Ask Stacy: Can I Drop My Health Insurance?

on July 3, 2012

In 2014, the Affordable Care Act will force insurance companies to insure everyone. So why not just drop your health coverage, pay the penalty, then buy insurance if you get sick? Check out this exchange on health care reform between me and a reader.

The Supreme Court Health Care Decision: What It Means to You
The Supreme Court Health Care Decision: What It Means to You

on June 28, 2012

The media is talking about which politicians “won” and “lost” when the Supreme Court ruled on health care reform. But here’s what really matters: how it all affects you.

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