Podcasts about consumer federation

North Texas drivers might have noticed higher prices at the pump the past few weeks, but those could drop depending on how tariffs impact the economy. In other news, the measles outbreak that began in West Texas more than two months ago could continue spreading and growing for months to come, according to health experts; products containing THC are on the radar of Texas lawmakers, who are deciding whether to ban them altogether; and the Dallas metro and the state of Texas rank near the top of the country for average home insurance premiums — thanks in part to the rise in extreme weather events. A study published earlier this month from the Consumer Federation of America found that Texas has reported average homeowners insurance premiums of nearly $4,800, the sixth-highest in the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sharon Cornelissen, Director of Housing, Consumer Federation of America, joins Megan Lynch as national home insurance rates are rising. Illinois has jumped particularly high.

A report from The Consumer Federation of America shows insurance rates in Arizona went up by 48% between 2021 and 2024, the third highest rate in the nation. And as wildfires grow in frequency, some homeowners say they are losing their insurance entirely.

A report from The Consumer Federation of America shows insurance rates in Arizona went up by 48% between 2021 and 2024, the third highest rate in the nation. And as wildfires grow in frequency, some homeowners say they are losing their insurance entirely.

Erin Witte, Director of Consumer Protection for the Consumer Federation of America, discusses the work she does protecting consumers in the face of a very anti-consumer climate.  Erin Witte Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org Nothing presented or discussed is to be construed as investment or tax advice. This can be secured from a vetted Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 

This Day in Legal History: Reichstag Fire DecreeOn February 28, 1933, German President Paul von Hindenburg issued the Reichstag Fire Decree, formally known as the Presidential Decree for the Protection of People and State. The decree was a direct response to the Reichstag fire the night before, which the Nazi Party blamed on Communists. It suspended key civil liberties, including freedom of speech, press, assembly, and protection from unlawful detention. The decree also allowed warrantless arrests and indefinite imprisonment of political opponents. Using this power, the Nazis swiftly arrested thousands of Communists, Socialists, and other adversaries. The decree marked the legal foundation of Nazi repression and paved the way for the Enabling Act, passed on March 23, which granted Hitler dictatorial powers. By July 14, 1933, the Nazis had criminalized all political opposition, establishing a one-party state. The decree remained technically in effect throughout Nazi rule, providing a legal cover for widespread persecution. It exemplified how emergency powers, once enacted, can be used to erode democracy rather than protect it.KPMG has received approval to practice law in Arizona, making it the first Big Four accounting firm to do so in the U.S. However, due to legal prohibitions, the firm cannot offer legal services to its audit clients, limiting its potential customer base. Despite this restriction, KPMG expects to attract many new clients rather than shedding existing ones. The Arizona Supreme Court's approval aligns with its goal of increasing access to legal services, but it also introduces a well-funded competitor to traditional law firms. Other Big Four firms like Deloitte, PwC, and EY may eventually follow suit.While U.S. regulations bar auditors from providing legal services to public company clients, Arizona's decision opens opportunities in the non-audit market. KPMG plans to focus on services complementing traditional legal work, such as contract management and supply chain restructuring. The firm must maintain an internal compliance program, overseen by attorney David Rizzo, and submit biannual reports to the state. With consulting already a major revenue stream, KPMG sees legal services as a way to expand further, particularly through technological advancements like AI.KPMG Must Pivot Around Audit Clients in Creating US Law PracticeThe Trump administration's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has dropped five enforcement cases against financial institutions, including a major lawsuit against Capital One over $2 billion in alleged illegal interest charges. Other dismissed cases involved student loan servicer PHEAA, Vanderbilt Mortgage, Rocket Homes, and Heights Finance, all of which had been accused of various predatory lending and mortgage fraud practices. The move significantly weakens the agency's legal actions against financial firms investigated for consumer abuse.The mass dismissals coincide with Trump's broader effort to dismantle the CFPB, an agency he has long opposed. His nominee for CFPB director, Jonathan McKernan, testified before the Senate, promising to enforce consumer protection laws but criticizing past enforcement as excessive. Meanwhile, Trump's administration has fired CFPB staff, shut down its Washington offices, and attempted to cancel its lease, though legal challenges have temporarily halted further layoffs.Consumer advocates, including Public Citizen and the Consumer Federation of America, condemned the dismissals, warning they encourage financial misconduct. The CFPB now has fewer than 20 active cases, with several likely to be paused under new leadership. While McKernan claims he will follow the law, critics fear a watered-down agency unable to protect consumers from financial abuses.Trump admin drops 5 consumer watchdog cases, including Capital One | ReutersA federal judge has ordered the Department of Government Efficiency (DGE) to provide a representative for a deposition regarding its authority, structure, and operations. The ruling by U.S. District Judge John Bates also requires the Trump administration to produce documents and answer questions in a lawsuit brought by labor unions and nonprofits. The plaintiffs seek to block DGE's access to systems at three federal agencies, citing concerns over transparency and legality.The Justice Department opposed the order, but Bates ruled that critical details about DGE remain unclear. While he allowed questioning on DGE's access to personal data, he limited inquiries into trade secrets or other confidential business records. The judge also set an eight-hour cap on questioning representatives from DGE and the agencies.Bates previously denied an immediate restraining order blocking DGE's access, stating the plaintiffs had not yet proven legal violations. Meanwhile, the White House recently disclosed that Elon Musk is not the actual administrator of DGE, contradicting earlier claims by Trump. Other lawsuits challenging DGE's legality and access to government records remain ongoing.Judge Orders Musk's DOGE, Agency Staff to Testify in LawsuitA federal judge in California has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from ordering mass firings of probationary federal employees at agencies like the Department of Defense and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). U.S. District Judge William Alsup ruled that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)lacks the authority to direct agencies to fire workers, contradicting administration claims that it was merely issuing guidance.Trump, backed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, has sought to slash federal jobs as part of a broader plan to cut $1 trillion from the national budget. The layoffs have drawn opposition from Democrats, unions, and government employees, who argue they are illegal and threaten essential government functions, including veterans' services, scientific research, and national parks.While 5,400 Defense Department employees are still set to be fired, Alsup ordered OPM to rescind memos directing mass layoffs. The ruling is temporary while the legal challenge proceeds, with plaintiffs arguing OPM violated administrative law by issuing directives outside its authority. Meanwhile, Trump's administration continues to push for deeper federal workforce cuts, with agencies required to submit reduction plans by March 13.US judge halts Trump administration's calls for mass firings at agencies | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

In the immediate aftermath of the mammoth fires in Los Angeles, Ralph welcomes Douglas Heller, Director of Insurance at Consumer Federation of America to fill us in on what to expect from the industry and how to get the most out of your fire insurance claims. Then, our resident constitutional scholar, Bruce Fein, returns to present a list of constitutional crises to expect upon the second coming of Donald Trump.Douglas Heller is a nationally-recognized insurance expert and Director of Insurance at Consumer Federation of America. In addition to conducting research for and providing expertise to consumer rights organizations, Mr. Heller is a member of the U.S. Department of Treasury's Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance, an appointee of California's Insurance Commissioner, serving as a board member of the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan, and he serves on the Executive Board of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.A key thing for everybody to know is that the premiums that we have paid over the last several years here in California—and this really goes across the country, but in California in particular—have put the insurance industry in a perfectly healthy position to deal with the claims, as dramatic and as severe as these fires are and the amount of damage that they caused…For the insurance companies to cry poverty in the wake of the buildup of capital over the last several years would be outrageous, and so we're going to be watching for that.Douglas HellerThe story around the country was that California was already a terrible hellscape for the insurance companies to do business in. When in fact, they were doing far better than the rest of the country. One of the big trade journals that reports on the industry has said that State Farm has been kept afloat by its performance in California over the last couple of years. And it was more a kind of a climate opportunism—after ignoring the potential (and then, growing) impact of climate change on property risk for years and decades, the insurance companies finally had this kind of revelation that oh they can talk about climate change as a new risk and a justification for demanding whatever they want.Douglas HellerBattle lines seem to be drawn—at least in my opinion—between the “Drill baby, drill. All we need to do is rake the leaves” camp versus “Hey, this is another wake up call to the climate crisis.” Because this was a severe weather event. And there were four major fires at once, and no fire department, whose main daily job is medical emergencies, is equipped to deal with that. Especially since the first two days the winds were so high—hurricane force winds—they couldn't get helicopters and airplanes into the air to make the drops in these canyons. And I don't think there's any amount of brush clearing that would have stopped these winds from whipping up these embers to send them into these residential districts.Steve SkrovanBruce Fein is a Constitutional scholar and an expert on international law. Mr. Fein was Associate Deputy Attorney General under Ronald Reagan and he is the author of Constitutional Peril: The Life and Death Struggle for Our Constitution and Democracy, and American Empire: Before the Fall.The Trump regime has a high probability of being the most lawless dictatorial regime in American history. All presidents violate laws, but Trump has taken this to a new, boastful level of variety.Ralph NaderThe reason why it's more likely that Trump will use this dragnet in a more abusive ways, is because he and his FBI nominee have said openly that they're going to do everything they can to persecute, to go after their enemies list…The only limitation on abuse is that they don't have the manpower to actually use it all.Bruce FeinWe're the guardrails—not Congress anymore. It's the people who have to stand up and protest and not send scoundrels back to office if they're not discharging their obligations under the United States Constitution. If we aren't the guardrails, there aren't any out there.Bruce FeinNews 1/15/251. In Gaza, CNN reports a ceasefire deal has finally been reached. This comes on the heels of negotiations between the warring parties, attended by envoys of both President Biden and incoming President Trump, with Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Under the terms of this deal, Hamas has agreed to free the remaining 33 Israeli hostages in their custody, while Israel will “free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.” Trump's apparent demand for an immediate settlement with this many Israeli concessions comes as a shock. Israeli journalist Erel Segal, widely seen as a Netanyahu proxy, is quoted saying “We're the 1st to pay a price for Trump's election. [The deal] is being forced upon us… We thought we'd take control of northern Gaza, that they'd let us impede humanitarian aid.”2. In more foreign policy news, the American Prospect is out with a piece on the gifts received by senior foreign policy officials in the Biden Administration. According to this report, Bill Burns – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency – has in the past year received “an $18,000 astrograph, an $11,000 Omega watch, and a ceremonial Saudi war sword.” By comparison, Secretary of State Antony Blinken received $600 worth of memorabilia and “several acrylic landscape portraits.” As this piece notes, individuals cannot keep these gifts – they become public property – yet the disparity in these gifts does reflect the difference in perception toward Blinken and Burns. As one State Department official put it, “When you want someone to drink champagne, you send Blinken. When you need someone to actually fix s**t in Brazil, the Middle East, or Russia, you send Burns.”3. And in the final days of his administration, AP's Matt Lee reports President Biden will reverse Trump's decision to designate Cuba a state sponsor of terror. The state sponsor of terror designation resulted in Cuba facing even harsher sanctions than they had during the decades-long embargo and led to multiple critical shortages of essential goods like fuel. Since the designation was announced in 2021, many have called for it to be reversed, including New York State Senators and representatives in New York, Massachusetts and Minnesota, as well as local representatives and labor unions like the UAW, UE, and others, per People's Dispatch. It is unclear why Biden is taking this action now and Trump can reverse this move as soon as he takes office.4. Turning to labor, NBC reports the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) will rejoin the AFL-CIO, 20 years after leaving the labor federation. With SEIU back in the fold, the AFL-CIO will represent over 15 million workers. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler is quoted saying “We are the, probably, only institution in the country that has an infrastructure in every city, in every state, in every workplace, that is a mobilizing machine…And as they say, outside power builds inside power.” This move is widely seen as an attempt to consolidate worker power ahead of Trump's return to office, though the unions have resisted saying so explicitly. The Teamsters left the AFL-CIO around the same time as the SEIU, but have made no moves to rejoin the labor federation and have instead opted to strategically align themselves with Trump. It remains to be seen which strategy will yield better results.5. In more labor news, Fast Company reports servers at Waffle House franchises around the country claim “the chain forces them to do janitorial work and dishwashing for [sub-minimum] tipped wages, robbing them of up to $46.8 million.” As this piece notes, “Wage theft…is a common practice. As of 2017…workers lose $15 billion annually in minimum wage violations alone.” Moreover, “From 2021 to 2024, the Department of Labor recovered more than $1 billion in back wages and damages for 615,000 employees in the U.S.” Waffle House is a particularly egregious offender, with 90% of workers surveyed reporting they had experienced some form of wage theft in the past year. The state minimum wage in Georgia, where Waffle House is based, is a meager $5.15 per hour, yet the tipped minimum is even lower at just $2.13 – a starvation wage. One worker, Melissa Steach, is quoted saying “Corporations can't keep throwing us around because we make all this money for them…And what are they really doing with it? They are not supporting their workers. They can't keep screwing us around. We're here. We're worth it.”6. On the other end of the spectrum, Apple CEO Tim Cook's staggering compensation package hit nearly $75 million in 2024, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Converted to an hourly wage, this equates to roughly $600 per minute. This is a substantial increase from his 2023 total of $63.2 million, but still lower than the nearly $100 million he received in 2022. In October, Apple reported its services business, including Apple Music and iCloud, hit a revenue of $24.97 billion for the quarter, a “new all-time high for the company.”7. In more tech news, the Intercept reports Meta – parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp – is relaxing their content moderation rules as they relate to hate speech. The Intercept received leaked training materials to this effect, which explicitly outline what users are now allowed to say. These officially permitted statements include “Immigrants are grubby, filthy pieces of s**t,” “Jews are flat out greedier than Christians,” and simply “I'm a proud racist.” The Electronic Frontier Foundation's international freedom of expression director Jillian York is quoted in this piece saying, “While [Meta's previous censorship regime] has often resulted in over-moderation that I and many others have criticized, these examples demonstrate that Meta's policy changes are political in nature and not intended to simply allow more freedom of expression.”8. In a more positive story of social progress, EuroNews reports that the Italian Bishops' Conference has issued new guidelines all but clearing the way for openly gay men to enter the priesthood. According to the newly issued report, titled "Guidelines and norms for seminaries,” "When referring to homosexual tendencies, it's… appropriate not to reduce discernment only to this aspect, but, as for every candidate, to grasp its meaning in the global framework of the young person's personality.” In 2023 Pope Francis told the AP that “being homosexual isn't a crime,” and has endorsed the church “blessing” same-sex unions. Women remain entirely excluded from the priesthood.9. On the domestic front, Axios reports Justice Democrats – the progressive insurgent group – is planning a new wave of primary challenges to unseat “corporatist” incumbent Democrats. While the group's number one target seems to be George Latimer, who ousted Congressman Jamaal Bowman from his newly redrawn seat last cycle, spokesperson Usamah Andrabi told Axios the group is, “keeping every deep blue district on the table.” However, many of the prominent House progressives are shying away from this effort. Pramila Jayapal, former chair of the Progressive Caucus said “I think given what's at stake we feel really urgently that we need to protect all incumbents,” while Ilhan Omar said "There are folks who endorse against their own colleagues, but I don't."10. Finally, Public Citizen co-presidents Rob Weissman and Lisa Gilbert have written a letter to the chairs of the Trump Transition team asking to be named members of the Department of Government Efficiency, aka DOGE. In this letter, Weissman and Gilbert express their “concerns about DOGE's structure and mission,” particularly with regard to its proposed leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who “hold financial interests that will be directly affected by federal budgetary policies,” but also makes the key argument that DOGE's mission to “slash excess regulation” and “cut wasteful expenditures” must be tied to the other “half of the picture: more efficiently regulating corporations to better protect consumers and the public from harmful corporate practices.” They argue that their “appointment to serve as members of DOGE” would enable them to serve as “voices for the interests of consumers and the public who are the beneficiaries of federal regulatory and spending programs.” Rather than an earnest plea for an appointment, this letter is more likely meant to expose a key issue with the DOGE project: those in charge of cutting supposed government waste are riddled with conflicts of interests. They have too many fingers in the pie. If Trump were serious about reducing government spending generally – and corruption specifically – he would appoint people like Weissman and Gilbert, not Ramaswamy and Musk. And they would start with the unbelievably bloated, unauditable Pentagon budget.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

If you work for a bank or other consumer financial services provider, you will want to listen closely to how consumer advocates are reacting to Trump's election insofar as the CFPB and FTC are concerned. In today's podcast episode, we're joined by Erin Witte and Adam Rust (the “CFA Reps”) from CFA. We focus first on CFPB and FTC regulations that might be finalized during the lame duck session of Congress. The CFA Reps express hope that the FTC would finalize its so-called “junk fee reg” which, as proposed, called for “all-in” pricing (I.e., disclosure of a dollar amount for goods and services that includes all fees that will be charged in connection with the transaction.) They also express hope that the CFPB will finalize its checking account overdraft fees reg, the larger participant rule pertaining to non-bank payment providers and the medical debt rule which, if finalized, would result in unpaid medical debt no longer appearing on credit bureau reports. Of course, there is a risk, with respect to each of these rules as well as any other CFPB and FTC rules finalized roughly after August 1 of this year, which they may be overruled by Congress under the Congressional Review Act. We then discuss final regs promulgated by the FTC and CFPB which have been challenged in the Circuit Courts of Appeal. For the FTC, this includes the so-called CARS Rule (which imposes restrictions on car dealers' sales and financing of motor vehicles) and the recent “Click-to-Cancel” Rule which, among other things, requires sellers of goods and services on a subscription basis to be able to cancel subscriptions as easily as signing up for subscriptions. The latter rule has been challenged in four circuit courts of appeal.  We also discuss the status of many CFPB final regs and what a new CFPB's strategy may be with respect to them. They include: the $8 credit card late fee rule which is currently enjoined by a Federal District Court in Texas; the data collection reg pertaining to small business loans promulgated under Section 1071 of Dodd-Frank, which is currently on appeal before the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals after a Federal District Court denied a motion by the bank trade associations to grant a preliminary injunction pertaining to the reg; the open-banking reg under Section 1033 of Dodd-Frank (which pertains to consumers having the ability to share information in certain bank accounts with third parties which has been challenged in court; the Buy-Now, Pay-Later interpretive rule which has been challenged in court; and the Earned Wage Access interpretive rule. There is great uncertainty as to whether the new CFPB's Director will seek to repeal or amend any of these regs or whether he or she will elect to change the CFPB's position in the litigation to side with the plaintiffs. In order to repeal or change any of the regs (other than the two interpretive rules), the CFPB will need to jump through all the hoops required by the Administrative Procedure Act before effecting a repeal or change and the repeal or change might be challenged in court as being arbitrary or capricious. It would seem that it might be much easier to repeal or change the interpretive rules which would not require publishing them in the Federal Register for notice and comment. The CFS Reps also express hope that the CFPB issues its final report with respect to the voluminous information it received from auto finance companies in response to market monitoring orders it issued to them. An initial report recently issued by the CFPB and dealt with the incidence of financing negative equity in cars being traded in. While the final report is unlikely to result in new proposed CFPB regulations during the next four years, the report might instigate enforcement actions by state AGs. As was the case during the first Trump presidency, the CFA Reps believe that whatever consumer protection void is created at the CFPB will largely be filled by state AGs, state departments of banking and consumer protection agencies. They also expect there to be an increase in private civil litigation, including class actions. Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel and former chair for 25 years of the Consumer Financial Services Group, hosts the discussion.

Thomas Gremillion, J.D., M.A. is the Director of Food Policy at the Consumer Federation of America (CFA). He oversees research, analysis, advocacy, and media outreach for the group's food policy activities, and monitors food safety activities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and in Congress, where he advocates for strong food safety protections for consumers. He also coordinates the Safe Food Coalition, a group of consumer, trade union, and foodborne illness victim organizations dedicated to reducing foodborne illness by improving government food inspection programs. Prior to joining CFA in 2015, Gremillion practiced environmental law at Georgetown University Law Center's Institute for Public Representation. He also served as an associate attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Gremillion is a member of the D.C. and North Carolina bars. He also holds an M.A. degree in International Relations from Andina Simón Bolívar University in Ecuador. In this episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak with Thomas [22:27] about: Initiatives and advocacy work by CFA and its Safe Food Coalition to improve national food safety and protect consumers from foodborne illness The pros and cons of the structure of FDA's reorganized Human Foods Program Concerns about efforts to delay or weaken FDA's Food Traceability Final Rule and industry's ability to comply by the January 2026 deadline Questions raised about federal oversight of food inspections following the high-profile Listeria outbreak linked to Boar's Head deli meats The need for standardized pathogen testing protocols for facilities that process raw and ready-to-eat (RTE) foods CFA's perspectives on USDA's proposed framework for reducing Salmonella in poultry products The implications of the Supreme Court's recent overturning of the 1984 Chevron ruling for the food industry, and regulatory agencies' ability to protect public health. News and Resources News Congress Members Urge FDA to Ban Red Dye 3 in Food [3:10]Policies on Antibiotics in Meat: Many Top Restaurants Receive Failing Grades, Only One Gets A+ [6:23]Poor Hygienic Design, Difficulty Communicating Risks are Barriers to Low-Moisture Food Safety, Study Shows [15:20]EU Expands Responsibility for Listeria Criteria in RTE Foods to Additional Food Business Operators [19:05] Resources “New Technology Applications in the Fight Against Foodborne AMR”—Editor's Note, Food Safety Magazine December ‘24/January ‘25 Facilities Focus: Food Safety Factors to Consider in Hygienic Design and Infrastructure (Webinar On-Demand) We Want to Hear from You! Please send us your questions and suggestions to podcast@food-safety.com

Opposition parties in France say they'll bring down the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier within days. This after he forced his social security budget through without a vote in parliament.As Ghana approaches an election, Ed Butler reports on the economic turmoil facing the countryAnd the Consumer Federation of America tells us about consumer sentiment following Black Friday and Cyber Monday

A proposed rule from the Federal Trade Commission aims to let consumers easily cancel unwanted subscriptions. It would require getting out of those plans to be as easy as it was getting in. But many businesses argue the move is unnecessary meddling that will harm consumers. William Brangham discussed more with Erin Witte of the Consumer Federation of America and a supporter of this rule. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

The process has changed for anyone looking to hire a real estate agent; new rules took effect in August that are designed to bring transparency and competition to the marketplace. Consumer advocates hope agents will be more willing to negotiate their commissions, but the new process and unfamiliar paperwork could create confusion for a while. In this episode: A look at the new rules and what they will mean to both buyers and sellers. Also, things everyone should know when they're hiring a real estate agent. More from Consumer Federation of America: Consumer Alert: How Home Buyers and Sellers Can Cope with New Real Estate Broker Rules and Practices CFA Releases Criteria for Evaluating Home Seller Contract Forms CFA Releases Criteria for Evaluating Home Buyer Contract Forms More from Ilyce Glink: 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask Love, Money + Real Estate Newsletter Not a Checkbook member? ⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

Will this be the episode that gets us canceled? Probably not, but in this episode, we sit down with Steve Brobeck, Senior Fellow for the Consumer Federation of America, to discuss cooperative compensation and commissions. Steve's insights have been cited in the lawsuit settlement, debating the effects of commission price-fixing and advocates for a more transparent system.    James and Keith challenge some of his views, exploring the complexities between buyers, sellers, and agents. Steve's unique perspective on the future of real estate commissions and licensing standards provide a thought-provoking conversation.   Follow the link below for the reports mentioned in the show: The Agency MessFlorida ReportNYC Report Full list of Housing reports from CFA.   Connect with Steve on LinkedIn - learn more about Steve at CFA.  Follow Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered Podcast on Instagram - YouTube - Facebook - TikTok. Visit us online at realestateinsidersunfiltered.com. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative 2024.

There's an allegation that companies are buying and using consumer data to charge individual, discriminatory prices. Clark discusses how to get around the loyalty tax you may unknowingly be paying. Also today, there is a trend in weddings to rethink the fantasy event and scale down to have funds for other priorities. Clark shares ideas to help couples save on their special day.  Privacy & The Price Of Loyalty: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Save More On Weddings: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: You're not going crazy — you may actually be paying higher prices than other people Are Indexed Universal Life Insurance Policies a Good Option or a Scam? Best 529 College Savings Plans By State Can I Sell My Life Insurance Policy? Consumer Federation of America - Insurance The CFA's Rate of Return (ROR) Program | Evaluate Life Insurance Kayak now displays Southwest Airlines flights - The Points Guy Brides are having brunch weddings, midweek destination nuptials and selling tickets, saving $70K on costs [The Washington Post] The American wedding is shrinking Clark Howard's Guide to Saving Money on Your Wedding Weddings - Clark.com Should You Ever Lease a Car? Pirate Ship Review: Pros & Cons of This Cheap Shipping Service Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Consumer Federation of America just proposed a new set of criteria for evaluating seller contract forms.    Here's the problem it aims to address: half the states we work in haven't given us new paperwork, and the other half have given us ambiguous, confusing paperwork. With the new offer rules surrounding the NAR settlement about to take effect, there's a lot of misunderstanding (and misinformation) surrounding what you can and can't do regarding contracts and offers.    In this vitally important episode of the Tom Ferry Show, I'm talking with one Leo Pareja, the new CEO of eXp Realty, who helped to create the proposed new contract criteria, on what it means and how to understand all the changes taking place. He'll help you cut through the misinformation and get a full grasp on how to conduct business in the new world of real estate.    The new commission rule changes DO affect you, and Leo and I can help you understand how to navigate them, so watch or listen now. 

In today's episode, Executive Director Ware Wendell sits down with Doug Heller and Michael DeLong, two leading experts from the Consumer Federation of America, to discuss the insurance crisis hurting so many homeowners and drivers. We explore how insurance companies have hiked rates while reducing coverage and policy solutions at the national and state level. Check out our YouTube video for links shared in this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcX-rEsBktA

In this episode of Advisor Revelations, DPL Founder and CEO David Lau talks with Micah Hauptman, Director of Investor Protection at the Consumer Federation of America, to discuss the Department of Labor's new rule on retirement security. They discuss the loopholes in retirement investment advice, the impact of commissions on consumer costs, and the need for financial professionals to act in their client's best interests. They also discuss the benefits of the new rule, including improved product quality, reduced costs, and competition. Learn more at https://www.dplfp.com/series/advisor-revelations-podcast.

US Consumer sentiment sags to a six-month low. Americans cite high inflation and fears around unemploymentA free bottle of wine has finally been claimed after being hidden in the privacy policy of a tax-focused think tank's website for three months. We hear more from the Director of consumer protection for Consumer Federation of AmericaThe Oscars have launched a global fund raising campaign to boost its finances following a decade long decline in its viewershipMandatory Credit: Photo by Adam Davis/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (14441942o) A customer walks past the fresh fruit section at a H-E-B supermarket in Austin, Texas, USA, 19 April 2024

Byron Lazine and Nicole White discuss a video message by new NAR President Kevin Sears and a new (third) study by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) on the “surfeit of real estate agents," the real issue behind lower-quality service and what it will take to raise the bar. Become a member of BAMx: https://bamx.uscreen.io/pages/subscribe Use discount code REALWORD for 10% off your annual subscription!

Steve Brobeck served as the executive director of the Consumer Federation of America from 1980 to mid 2018. Steve now holds the position of senior fellow where he has researched real estate issues since the 1990s.Victoria Ray Henderson is the owner and broker of HomeBuyer Brokerage in the Washington D.C. area. Victoria is the producer and host of the podcast, Listen Up Home Buyers! with the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents Victoria: Hello and welcome to the podcast, Listen Up Home Buyers. I'm Victoria Ray Henderson, and today's guest is Steve Brobeck. Mr. Brobeck served as the Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of America from 1980 to mid-2018, and he now holds the position of Senior Fellow, where he has researched real estate issues since the 1990s. Steve, welcome to Listen Up Home Buyers.Steve:  It's great to join you, Vic.Victoria:  Yeah, thank you. So we have so many things that we could talk about and that we have talked…But the one thing I'd love to talk about today is the Real Estate Agent Commissions, and specifically that recent verdict by the Federal Jury in Missouri, which ruled that the National Association of Realtors and several brokerages had conspired to fix prices by setting a standard where seller pays the listing agent a commission. And that is split with the buyer's agent. And that decision found the defendants liable for $1.8 billion in damages. And of course, this verdict is just sweeping through the country, could dramatically change the real estate industry. So, I'll start with what are your thoughts on the verdict?Steve:  Well I'm not surprised at all; the jury hardly deliberated at all. When they went into that jury room, they had made up their mind. They spent a couple of hours deciding on the damages. Yes, they decided on 1.8 billion, but in fact, with the trouble damages, the cost to the industry could be over $5 billion. And that is just essentially in the State of Missouri, if you project it out to the whole country, you're looking at awards that would bankrupt the industry two or three times over. But that is not what the industry eventually is going to have to pay.Victoria:  Yeah. When you heard about this verdict, what did you hope would come from it?Steve:  Well, essentially, prices have been set by the industry for 80 to 90 years. And what we'd like to see, and what we believe in at CFA is price competition. And we believe that if there were effective price competition, you would see a much more diverse marketplace. The commissions on average would come down. We predicted 3 to 4%, but just as importantly, there would be different rates for different agents. Those that are really good at what they do, have a lot of experience would be able to charge more than those who just received their license. I just in fact, received a sales license in DC, and I do not deserve 3%, you know, for facilitating a sale.Victoria:  Congratulations. And you're always welcome to join my brokerage if you…We offer a great training program. But the reason that I bring that point up is because you mentioned that 3%, or whatever the commission would be. And you know that you as a newbie; newbies never make their full commission, they're always either working on the team, under the tutelage of, you know, somebody and they should be supervised and should be getting some training.Steve:  Well, the thing is, yes, maybe they're only receiving one and a half percent. Two reports on this whole problem of training. It's very easy in almost every state for someone to get a real estate license. Yet, this is actually…Practicing brokerage is complicated or it should be complicated and demands a lot of skill and knowledge. And unfortunately, one of our reports documented how incompetent so many agents are. They're often bailed out either by their broker or in many cases they're bailed out by the agent for the other party in the sale. That's just not the way an industry should function. You have to go back historically. Back in the 1920s, even earlier, the industry tried to set prices and force all members of the industry to charge the same price. The Department of Justice in the 1940s sued them about that, and they retreated and they made those price schedules voluntary. The Department of Justice sued them again, and they backtracked again. Then they engaged the industry in widespread collusion. Discounters have tried to offer lower rates and they failed. What the litigation tries to do, and what the jury clearly understood the industry is trying to do is, or should do, is to completely separate the listing agent and the buyer agent commissions. And if that's done, there actually is a chance for there to be real price competition, which by the way we believe would help the most confident agents. Right now, there's a glut of agents. Our current research shows that nearly half of all agents sold no or one property in the last year, and that essentially then puts huge pressure on the successful agents to continue and maintain the 5 to 6% rates.Victoria:  I often find, and the reason that many of these newbies don't have sales is because they're working as secretarial duties. They're on teams where they're following people around, and so they won't have a lot of sales. Now, I'm not arguing for…You know, I agree with you there are a lot of agents, and too many, but so many of them are used as support staff. So, I think, you know…Steve:  That's right. But remember, their aspiration is to be an agent; to sell property and collect commissions. And when they can, yes, some of them, and we've actually documented in the study that we're going to release early next year, but they end up working as admin staff to successful brokers. That's true.Victoria:  Yeah. Just in the beginning of the month, The Association of Independent Mortgage Experts, they release this open letter, and they're really concerned about the decoupling of the commissions. And the main reason is, you and I have discussed this before about putting additional finances onto the buyer, and specifically they're talking about vets; veterans, and first time home buyers, and they're saying that they could be adversely affected. VA guidelines, they prevent people from being able to finance a buyer's agent. So what we would end up doing in that situation, if it was decoupled, is asking the seller for a credit to pay the cooperative commission or the commission for the buyer's agent. And then there's the issue of the appraisal. What happens if to the appraisal when, you know, if the mortgage industry did end up being able to do this, which I don't think that they're going to agree to, the home value would then be impacted. So what are your thoughts on that?Steve:  If the industry decided that they wanted to remove those barriers, and I've talked to many people in the industry about this, it could get fixed and it could get fixed without even going to Congress. If, in fact, the real estate industry, and I think the mortgage industry and the consumer groups and housing groups would join them as well and go to the regulators and said, look, you've got to tweak these regulations to allow essentially a price competitive market to take place lowering the costs for buyers and sellers that would occur. Vic, I have talked to hundreds of realtors over the last 30 years, all of whom I consider to be professionals; they're the full-timers with experience. And quite a few of them complain that the industry will never be a profession until you have professional standards, which would greatly reduce the number of agents and give exclusive buyers like yourself a better opportunity to recruit clients.Victoria:  I agree with you that real estate standards need to be higher. And I will say that the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, are specific real estate brokers and agents who are consumer oriented with a focus only working with buyers. What is your opinion of exclusive buyer brokerage in general?Steve:  Well, I'm glad you asked me that question because I am a strong believer in exclusive buyer brokerage. What the exclusive buyer brokers recognize, and I understood this when I first started to study the industry back in the nineties, is they recognize there's a fundamental conflict of interest in the industry. You basically cannot, without exposing that conflict of interest, list properties and sell properties. So you list properties and then you have a buyer. Now, who's your obligation to, is it to the, the sellers whose properties you've listed to show them the properties first? If not, then you are actually violating your fiduciary duty to the buyer. And if, in fact, you just honor that fiduciary ability and you ignore all of your listings and look for the property that would best suit the buyer, you're then violating your fiduciary responsibilities to the seller. Exclusive buyer brokerage has recognized that conflict of interest. And so people like yourself  who said, look, we can't really represent both, so we're just going to represent buyers. And I very much hope that in the future, exclusive buyer brokerage will stabilize and grow, and that buyers end up routinely using exclusive buyer brokers. That's my hope.Victoria:  Yeah, and I appreciate that. With the decoupling of commissions, I am really worried about a couple of people that I'm thinking of that I helped this year. She was scraping money together, borrowing money from parents, and pulling it together. And I got, you know, a condo for her under list price with a 3% seller subsidy to help with closing costs. And I was overjoyed, you know, I was just so elated to be able to do this. This woman would not have been able to pay my co-op, my commission out of pocket. My concern is that, you know, that the unintended consequences of decoupling the commissions could have ramifications that could impact the industry for decades.Steve:  I think that to preserve exclusive buyer brokerage and to rationalize the market, you're going to have to allow the buyers to finance the buyer agent commission. But what people are talking about right now, and you actually alluded to it ear early in our discussion, is a concession by the seller. And I think that that's what we're going to see as a transitional stage. And that eventually will lead to the mortgage financing of the commission. But that's the way to basically ease this transition.Victoria:  How is what you're suggesting different from what's already in play? How is it that in this whole scenario the person who, or the real estate agent, and in my case, the exclusive buyer broker who is essentially doing, I think it's well understood that the person who represents the buyer is doing a lot of work. How is it that this person has become the bad guy in this whole scenario? Steve:  They're not. Well, they're not the bad guy. I mean, the listing agent is really the one who was discussing the compensation and justifying the 5 to 6%. It's not the buyer agents because we're, with a few exceptions, the buyers and the buyer agents aren't having that conversation. You know, it's true. The system has existed basically for 80 to 90 years, and it functions to the extent that homes get sold and purchase. But the problem is the industry is very inefficient; consumers overpay, or at least quite a few of them, overpay. There's no relationship between agent compensation, or very little relationship between agent compensation and the services that they provide.Victoria:  As an exclusive buyer broker, I want people to be educated. I want buyers to understand this whole process. And I also know that I can speak for the members of Neva in saying that, you know, we advocate for buyers a hundred percent, we could probably be making double what we make if we did listings and if we worked for buyers, and if we did dual agency and designated agency, but we drew a line in the sand and said, we're not functioning that way.Steve:  Well, CFA has recognized that for decades, and we commend exclusive buyer brokers who really are trying to offer good value to consumers without the kind of conflicts of interest that exists throughout the rest of the industry. So, more power to exclusive buyer brokers.Victoria:  Yeah. We appreciate your support. Steve Brobeck, has served as the Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of America from 1980 to mid-2018, and now he holds the position of Senior Fellow at CFA and he's been researching real estate issues since the 1990s. Steve, you know, it's such a pleasure to always talk to you, and I'm inviting you back because we've only scratched the surface in this particular podcast.Steve:  Well, thank you, Vic. Victoria:  Thank you. Listen Up, Home Buyers! The podcast offering advice and tips from true buyer agents. Host and Producer, Victoria Ray Henderson is the owner and broker of HomeBuyer Brokerage in the Washington D.C. area. Victoria is and a member of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents.

Join Ray Shefska as he delves deep into the journey of Erin Witte, the Director of Consumer Protection for the Consumer Federation of America. From her early days as a gas station attendant and navigating her way through college parties to her transformative journey into law school, Erin's path is a testament to resilience and determination.   Discover how Erin transitioned from the courtroom, litigating against predatory business practices, to the halls of Congress, lobbying for consumer rights. Who was the pivotal figure that steered her towards a life of advocacy? And how does she tackle the challenges posed by car dealerships and their often-questionable tactics?   In this engaging 60-minute episode, Erin not only shares her personal and professional journey but also offers insights into how everyday consumers can join the fight for fairer practices  when buying a car.  And she even has a tangible way for listeners to make a difference. Tell NADA: Support the FTC's Auto Dealer Rule and Stop Ripping Consumers Off with Fake Deals, Hidden Junk Fees, and Misleading Advertising Now! To learn more about Erin's advocacy work and her initiatives, visit the Consumer Federation of America's website consumerfed.org

Today on the Daily News You Can Use, Ray and Zach are joined by Erin Witte of the Consumer Federation to discuss consumer rights in car buying. Tune in to learn more!

In episode 194 of America Adapts, we take a deep dive on climate risk and the insurance sector. Earlier in the fall host Doug Parsons attended a two day conference hosted at American University in Washington DC. The conference was organized by Environmental Defense Fund, SBP and American University. The event brought together experts that focus on the role of insurance when it comes to building equity in disaster recovery, reducing future losses, expanding coverage with new innovations, and managing increasing climate-related disasters. You'll hear the need for insurance companies to conduct climate risk analysis and the role of government in addressing these issues. Experts at this conference laid the intellectual groundwork on where the insurance industry will need to go and you'll hear highlights in this episode. This episode was generously sponsored by Environmental Defense Fund. Agenda from the Climate Risk conference available here. Video recordings from the Climate Risk Conference available here. Dr. Carolyn Kousky, Associate Vice President for Economics and Policy at Environmental Defense Fund  Francis Bouchard, Managing Director, Climate, Marsh McLennan  Helen Wiley, Disaster Preparedness Program Director, SBP Janelle Kellerman, Founder The Center for Sea Rise Solutions Rob Moore, Senior Policy Analyst, People & Communities Program, Natural Resources Defense Council  Theodora Makris, Program Manager at Center for NYC Neighborhoods  Kate Stillwell, Founder of Jumpstart Insurance  Doug Heller, Director of Insurance, Consumer Federation of America Topics covered: Managing climate risk Reducing Inequities in Recovery Community Models of Insurance Insurance and Local Government Financial Needs Escalating Climate Risk and Insurance Markets Rethinking public and private strategies for risk transfer Linking flood insurance to buyouts Check out the America Adapts Media Kit here! Subscribe to the America Adapts newsletter here. Donate to America Adapts Listen to America Adapts on your favorite app here! Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/americaadapts/ @usaadaptshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-parsons-america-adapts/ https://www.instagram.com/america_adapts/?hl=en Resources and Links in this episode: Inclusive Insurance for Climate-Related Disasters: A Roadmap for the United States SBP's Prepare Program Harnessing Risk Transfer to Support Immediate Post-Disaster Needs of Low- and Moderate-Income Households: A Meso-Insurance Pilot in New York City Improving the Post-Flood Financial Resilience of Lower-Income Households through Insurance Community-Based Catastrophe Insurance Parametric Insurance for Disasters Can Insurance Save us from Climate Disaster? Background on home buyouts: https://www.nrdc.org/bio/anna-weber/going-under-post-flood-buyouts-take-years-complete Jumpstart Insurance California Climate Insurance Working Group Learn your flood risk now: https://www.floodhelpny.org/   Battelle's third annual Innovations in Climate Resilience Conference (ICR24) takes place on April 22-24, 2024, in Washington, DC. This toolkit is meant to help share messaging and information with your audiences.   ICR24 Websitehttps://www.battelle.org/conferences/conference-on-innovations-in-climate-resilience IMPORTANT KEY DATES ·         Abstract Submission Deadline – December 11, 2023 – Submission link Early Bird Registration Opens – November 1, 2023 – Registration link Early Bird Registration Deadline - February 16, 2024 Standard Registration Closes - April 15, 2024 Donate to America Adapts Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow on Android Hey Adapters, I'm excited to announce a new partnership with Atmos. America Adapts has been selected as one of the non-profits that gets direct donations when you start banking with Atmos, the world's most climate-focused bank account. From solar loans, cash-back checking to high yield savings accounts, Atmos is 'banking with a purpose.' When you open a bank account you can increase your monthly savings rate when you regularly support their select list of non profits working for a sustainable future. Yes, there are other options besides America Adapts...like Amazon Watch, 1% for the Planet, Grist, Project Drawdown and many more. Please watch the short video below to get a specific explanation of what Atmos offers. America Adapts gets individual donors because we're a 501(c)3, but Atmos might be a better fit, as you get banking services with your donations.. Doug Parsons and Speaking Opportunities: If you are interested in having Doug speak at corporate and conference events, sharing his unique, expert perspective on adaptation in an entertaining and informative way, more information can be found here! Now on Spotify! List of Previous Guests on America Adapts Follow/listen to podcast on Apple Podcasts. Donate to America Adapts, we are now a tax deductible charitable organization! Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Strategies to Address Climate Change Risk in Low- and Moderate-income Communities - Volume 14, Issue 1 https://www.frbsf.org/community-development/publications/community-development-investment-review/2019/october/strategies-to-address-climate-change-low-moderate-income-communities/ Podcasts in the Classroom – Discussion guides now available for the latest episode of America Adapts. These guides can be used by educators at all levels. Check them out here! The 10 Best Sustainability Podcasts for Environmental Business Leadershttps://us.anteagroup.com/news-events/blog/10-best-sustainability-podcasts-environmental-business-leaders The best climate change podcasts on The Climate Advisorhttp://theclimateadvisor.com/the-best-climate-change-podcasts/ 7 podcasts to learn more about climate change and how to fight ithttps://kinder.world/articles/you/7-podcasts-to-learn-more-about-climate-change-and-how-to-fight-it-19813 Directions on how to listen to America Adapts on Amazon Alexa https://youtu.be/949R8CRpUYU America Adapts also has its own app for your listening pleasure!  Just visit the App store on Apple or Google Play on Android and search “America Adapts.” Join the climate change adaptation movement by supporting America Adapts!  Please consider supporting this podcast by donating through America Adapts fiscal sponsor, the Social Good Fund. All donations are now tax deductible! For more information on this podcast, visit the website at http://www.americaadapts.org and don't forget to subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts.   Podcast Music produce by Richard Haitz Productions Write a review on Apple Podcasts ! America Adapts on Facebook!   Join the America Adapts Facebook Community Group. Check us out, we're also on YouTube! Executive Producer Dr. Jesse Keenan Subscribe to America Adapts on Apple Podcasts Doug can be contacted at americaadapts @ g mail . com

Jim Paulsen of The Leuthold Group and Paulsen's Perspective joins the podcast to discuss his views on S&P valuations, the possibility of inflation and a market outlook. Our own Mark Schoeff Jr. fills Jeff and Bruce in on Barbara Roper's move to the SEC from her longtime work for the Consumer Federation of America.

If you're on the house hunt, you know the real estate market is competitive. Turns out, it's competitive for real estate agents, too. A new report by the Consumer Federation of America shows there are too many real estate agents for too few home sales. And it is coming at a cost to consumers. On the On Your Side podcast, we are chatting with Steven Brobeck, the author of the report. He's the senior fellow at the non-profit consumer research and advocacy group and tells us why too many real estate agents are hurting the industry.

NCRC Community Development Fund, a subsidiary of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, lends primarily to Black, Latino, women, and immigrant entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the country with its mission to help bridge the racial wealth divide by supporting entrepreneurship and affordable homeownership in America's underserved communities.Its new lending platform – for which it is also building an algorithm to determine loan eligibility – stands to make the roughly 10-person operation more efficient, Marisa Calderon, NCRC CDF's executive director, said in a recent interview.This episode of the CRA Podcast addresses the promise of CDFI lending, partnerships with financial institutions to support the continuum of capital for disadvantaged communities, and how the Community Development Fund is also building a new lending platform leveraging AI to not only support efficiencies in their operation but also for others in the CDFI industry. Marisa Calderon's Bio and ExperienceMarisa Calderon is an experienced executive who is regularly recognized, awarded and cited nationwide for her expertise in the housing and financial services industries. She has over two decades of experience dedicated to the issues of economic mobility and bridging America's racial wealth gap. Marisa Calderon is the executive director at NCRC Community Development Fund (NCRC CDF), a nonprofit, U.S. Treasury-certified community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides loan capital to expand access to affordable homeownership, which helps Black-, Brown- and woman-owned businesses thrive. Under her leadership in her first 18 months at NCRC CDF, they deployed over $17 million in capital to historically underserved Black, Latino, immigrant, and women entrepreneurs through their small business and investment programs, earning them a place on Fast Company's list of 2022 Most Innovative Companies in the World. She is also chief of community finance and mobility at the NCRC CDF's parent company, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC), where her work focuses on advancing economic mobility for communities impacted by systemic inequality and disinvestment. Marisa is ranked on the Swanepoel Power 200 as one of the most powerful leaders in the residential real estate industry, and was twice named a HousingWire Woman of Influence in 2018 and 2021 for her work in increasing real estate and mortgage professionals' understanding and appreciation of the Hispanic home-buying market. In 2021, she was named one of Diversity Journal's Women Worth Watching in Leadership and was featured in Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power and was recognized on Women We Admire's list of the Top 50 Women Leaders in Finance of 2022. Frequently sought out as an expert on affordable housing, lending and immigration, Marisa has been interviewed by numerous publications and media outlets, including NPR's Marketplace and does regular public speaking at industry and general market events, including Mortgage Banker's Association, FDIC, Consumer Federation of America, National Fair Housing Alliance, and many others. In addition to this work, Marisa is also a board member of the non-partisan political action committee, Latinas Lead California and a Senior Advisor to America's Homeowner Alliance.CRA Today Website: https://cratoday.com/ CRA Hub: https://cratoday.com/hubLinda Ezuka, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-ezuka-cra-today/Copyright © 2023 by CRA Today LLC(No claim to original U.S. government material)All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author and publisher.This podcast is a periodic publication of CRA Today LLC and is intended to notify and inspire recipients of new developments in the Community Reinvestment Act. It should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own attorney concerning your situation and specific legal questions you have.

Micah Hauptman, the director of investor protection at the Consumer Federation of America, talks about his job and the fight to implement a fiduciary standard.  Consumer Federation of America Learned by Being Burned (teachers share how they were burned by sales agents and "trusted" advisors and how they got wise to the 403(b) plan) Meridian Wealth Management 403bwise.org

Clark spoke recently about the role of family and friends when it comes to fraud protection for our elders. Today he has a first hand account of why it's so vitally important we take this to heart. Also today, The Consumer Federation of America reports that home repairs and renovations are a top area of complaints. Avoiding these headaches starts with how you hire a contractor and Clark has some guidelines for getting it right from the get go.  Vigilance For Vulnerable Seniors: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Hiring A Contractor: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show How To Spot Financial Abuse of an Elderly Relative or Friend EcoATM: 5 Things To Know Before You Sell Your Phone Is Booking a Cruise Last-Minute Still a Good Bargain Strategy? No surprises here: These are the top US consumer complaints, from cars to credit cards Clark.com- 6 Tips for Hiring a Contractor PSA Collectibles Authentication and Grading Service Beckett Authentication Services: Sports & Non-sports   Memorabilia Auctions - Heritage Auctions Sell Sports Memorabilia with Sotheby's Christie's Sports Memorabilia A Quick Guide on How to Insure Jewelry Clark.com resources Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices: megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Food Labeling Modernization Act of 2023. The bill would update front-of-package food labeling requirements, require updates to the ingredient list on packaged foods, and apply consumer friendly labeling requirements.Among many other labeling issues, the bill would amend FALPCA (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act) to require that food product packaging disclose ALL gluten-containing grains. We've been down this road before with the FLMA of 2021, but we are making progress. As is stated in the press release, “Food labels play an important role in managing conditions such as celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, but they need to be complete and easier to understand.” said Senator Cardin." The press release also lists the groups currently supporting this legislation: "The Food Labeling Modernization Act is supported by Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Reports, Consumer Federation of America, Environmental Working Group, International Fresh Produce Association, Gluten Free Watchdog, Celiac Disease Foundation, and Beyond Celiac."Stay tuned for ways to get involved by asking your representative for support.Read the full press release here: https://democrats-energycommerce.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/pallone-and-blumenthal-introduce-food-labeling-modernization-legislation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get up and get informed! Here's all the local news you need to start your day: A recent study by the Consumer Federation of America reveals that drivers in predominantly Black and low-income communities in New York City pay significantly higher premiums for auto insurance, often amounting to hundreds or even thousands of dollars more. Meanwhile, multi-family construction in New Jersey has experienced a dramatic increase since 2015, doubling in size. And in sports news, the New York Jets introduce their new quarterback, the legendary Aaron Rodgers, to local media.

Our guest on the podcast today is Micah Hauptman. Micah is the director of investor protection at the Consumer Federation of America, a nonprofit association of nearly 300 national, state, and local pro-consumer organizations. He leads CFA's investor protection work through conducting research and engaging in advocacy on investor protection issues, focusing primarily on the regulation of investment advisors, investment companies, and broker/dealers, particularly as they relate to the provision of retail investment products and services. Prior to rejoining CFA in early 2022 Micah served as counsel to Securities and Exchange Commission commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, and before that he served as CFA's financial services counsel for nearly seven years. He also worked at Public Citizen on a broad range of banking and tax issues and started his career as a prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney's office. Micah received his bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA and his JD degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law.BackgroundBioKey Challenges for Investors“New Offerings of Crypto in Retirement Plans Underscore Need for DOL Fiduciary,” by Micah Hauptman and Dylan Bruce, consumerfed.org, April 4, 2023.Department of Labor's 2016 Fiduciary Rule: Background and Issues“Improving Investment Advice for Workers & Retirees,” U.S. Department of Labor, dol.gov, June 29, 2020.Regulation Best InterestRegulation Best Interest (Reg BI) Overview“What Regulation Best Interest Means for Brokers and Asset Managers,” by Aron Szapiro, Morningstar.com, Nov. 18, 2019.“Beyond the FINRA Suitability Comfort Zone,” by Matthew Radgowski and Jill Axline, Morningstar.com, March 9, 2020.Cryptocurrency“Crypto: Risks Abound,” by Micah Hauptman, consumerfed.org, Nov. 17, 2022.“With Crypto, Advisors Need to Tread Carefully,” by Jasmin Sethi, Morningstar.com, Aug. 15, 2022.“Bitcoin in Your 401(k)? Not so Fast,” by Madeline Hume, Morningstar.com, April 27, 2022.Social Media“Investors in the United States: The Changing Landscape,” A Report of the FINRA Foundation National Financial Capability Study, finrafoundation.org, December 2022.“Why You Should Stop Taking Investment Advice From Social Media,” by Sunniva Kolostyak, Morningstar.com, June 16, 2021.Environmental, Social, and Governance“CFA Strongly Supports SEC Proposals to Enhance ESG-Related Disclosures and Update Names Rule,” by Micah Hauptman and Dylan Bruce, consumerfed.org, Aug. 16, 2022.“Amid Charges of Greenwashing, Sustainable-Investment Industry Attempts to Reassure Investors,” by Leslie Norton, Morningstar.com, June 8, 2022.Other“Robert Powell: ‘How Do I Generate the Income?'” The Long View podcast, Morningstar.com, March 14, 2023.Morningstar Investment Conference 2023

Auto insurance companies base their premiums on a host of factors, such as the vehicle, driving record, and, in most states, your age, gender, marital status, and credit history. Some also offer discounts if you agree to install telematic technology on your car, which monitors when and where you drive—and how safe or reckless you drive to get there. Is it worth giving up your privacy to see your insurance bill drop by as much as 30 or 40%? In this episode, we talk to Michael DeLong, an advocacy associate with the Consumer Federation of America, about telematic data collection: How it works, how it can get things wrong, and whether you should even consider trading your privacy for lower insurance rates. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/consumerpedia/support

Since January 2000, James Perry has been counseling consumers on a variety of cons ranging from telemarketing to Internet-based scams. As NCL's Consumer Services Coordinator, James monitors complaints submitted to NCL through the complaint form at Fraud.org and serves as a representative on the Consumer Federation of America's Fake Checks Working Group. James works with law enforcement agencies to transmit consumer fraud complaints to more than 200 agencies in the United States and Canada. Prosecutors have charged actor Alec Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in 2021 on the set of the film “Rust.” Disgraced Rep. George Santos allegedly conned a disabled, homeless veteran out of thousands of dollars donated to save the man's dying service dog, according to a stomach-turning report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

December 15, 2022 RL Condra and Vernon discuss how the Mid-term Election results might impact the cooperative landscape, and the importance of advocacy and how he became involved in the cooperative movement. As Senior VP of Government Affairs RL Condra is responsible for advocating for issues that directly impact NCB's cooperative customer segments. Since joining NCB, he has advocated for cooperatives to have access to SBA lending programs, risk retention changes for cooperative housing, and the RCDG program for cooperative development centers. Mr. Condra serves as the advocacy chair for Cooperation Works, a national network of organizations and individuals working on co-op development and on the Inter-agency working group for cooperatives. In addition, he serves as Vice-Chair on the Consumer Federation of America Board of Directors, and is on the board of the Food Co-op Initiative. Prior to joining NCB, Mr. Condra was Vice President of Advocacy for the NCBA CLUSA and spent several years on Capitol Hill as a staff member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition and as Director of Congressional Affairs for the Delta Regional Authority. Mr. Condra earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Arkansas.

On this episode of the inSecurities podcast, Chris and Kurt chat with Micah Hauptman, who recently returned to the Consumer Federation of America as Director of Investor Protection, having previously served as counsel to SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw. Micah talks about noteworthy accomplishments during his time at the Commission and breaks down several investor protection rules and policies CFA supports, including initiatives relating to ESG investing and complex products. 

July 14, 2022 Everything Co-op kicks-off its recognition of the 2022 Cooperative Hall of Fame Inductees with Paul Hazen, executive director of the Overseas Cooperative Development Council (OCDC). Vernon and Paul discuss his experiences in the cooperative movement throughout his career, and the role he feels cooperatives have played in helping cities to rebound from the economic collapses of the past. Paul Hazen became executive director of the Overseas Cooperative Development Council in February 2012. Throughout his career, Hazen has championed the U.S. cooperative system. He has helped establish federal legislation promoting rural co-op development, formed a national network of co-op development centers and initiated national research into the impact of co-ops on the U.S. economy. Prior to joining OCDC, Hazen was CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based National Cooperative Business Association, (NCBA). Under Hazen's leadership, NCBA's cooperative development portfolio grew from $8 million to over $30 million annually. During his 25-year tenure with the organization, he held key positions, including chief operating officer, vice president of public policy, vice president of member services and director of consumer cooperatives. Active in cooperative matters at many levels, Hazen is the one of the founders of Dot Coop, the top-level domain for cooperatives around the world. He also shares his cooperative expertise and leadership as a member of various boards, including Rochdale Capital Corporation, and the Community Purchasing Alliance Cooperative. Past board service includes the International Co-operative Alliance, the National Cooperative Bank, Capital Impact Partners, Consumer Federation of America, Cooperative Development Foundation and Cooperative Business International.

Saving money is something we all need, but how we go about it can look different. We're all in different stages or places in our lives. Savings for a single-parent service member might look different than dual service members. In this episode, Kia McCallister-Young shares simple steps to start saving money based on your situation. Kia is the Director of America Saves, a campaign managed by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America that helps others save money, reduce debt, and build wealth. Kia's professional experience includes founding a successful marketing consulting agency focused on designing timeless communications strategies that clarify messaging and building an ideal community that converts. As an Air Force veteran and former military spouse, Kia has great advice to save money where you're at in life. The show notes can be found here: https://laceylangford.com/podcast/simple-steps-to-start-saving/

Earlier this year in California, two State Assembly members— Democrat Buffy Wicks and Republican Jordan Cunningham— introduced the California Age Appropriate Design Code Bill. The California Age Appropriate Design Code would place limitations on what companies can do with youth data, including tracking location and profiling. It puts limitations on manipulative design, and includes transparency measures so users are aware and consent to the use of their information. The bill makes the California attorney general responsible enforcement of the state's rules, opening up the possibility of litigation or fines against companies that do not follow the Code. It would also require the California Privacy Protection Agency to create a Children's Data Protection Task Force that would formulate recommendations on best practices. A coalition of civil society and tech policy groups supports the Code, including organizations such as Common Sense Media, Accountable Tech, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, the Sesame Workshop, the Consumer Federation of California, and the National Hispanic Media Coalition. Industry groups, such as TechNet and the California Chamber of Commerce, oppose the bill, and other experts have raised concerns in particular about requirements for age verification. The California State Assembly voted 72-0 to pass the bill, and it is now with the California Senate.  For this podcast, Tech Policy Press spoke to three people— all college students and activists— who support it, in part due to their own experiences: Aliza Kopans, a rising sophomore at Brown University, cofounder of Technic(ally) Politics and an intern at Accountable Tech; Emma Lembke, a rising sophomore at the Washington University in St. Louis, founder of the Log Off Movement, cofounder of Technic(ally) politics and an intern at Accountable Tech Khoa-Nathan Ngo, rising college sophomore and a youth collaborator at GoodforMedia.

It is Money Monday and if you need help with your savings like we do, Director of America Saves has our back! Also, could legal psychedelics be the key to releasing trauma & finding peace? Dr. Greene joins us to go in depth. Plus, so much more!    Special guests: Dr. Ryan M Greene, Co-Founder and Medical Director of Monarch Athletic Club in Los Angeles. Kia McCallister-Young is the Director of America Saves, a non-profit organization and initiative of the Consumer Federation of America that uses principles of behavioral economics and social marketing to motivate, encourage and support everyday Americans to save money, reduce debt, build wealth and create better financial habits.

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell Here are the links mentioned in today’s program: Factsheet: Surveillance Advertising: What is it? Consumer Federation of America, August 26, 2021 Which? Your Consumer Champion About the host: Jim Campbell has a longstanding interest in the intersection of digital technology, law, and public policy and how they affect our daily lives in our increasingly digital world. He has banged around non-commercial radio for decades and, in the little known facts department (that should probably stay that way), he was one of the readers voicing Richard Nixon's words when NPR broadcast the entire transcript of the Watergate tapes. Like several other current WERU volunteers, he was at the station's sign-on party on May 1, 1988 and has been a volunteer ever since doing an early stint as a Morning Maine host, and later producing WERU program series including Northern Lights, Conversations on Science and Society, Sound Portrait of the Artist, Selections from the Camden Conference, others that will probably come to him after this is is posted, and, of course, Notes from the Electronic Cottage. The post Notes from the Electronic Cottage 6/16/22: Summer Encore 3 – Surveillance Advertising first appeared on WERU 89.9 FM Blue Hill, Maine Local News and Public Affairs Archives.

The pandemic has turned the car market upside-down: inventory is low, and prices for new cars keep going up. That means it's more important than ever to have a plan. Should you wait? Should you buy used? Is leasing something you should even consider? Get answers to those questions, plus learn about a sure-fire way to get the best price on any new vehicle. Special Guest: Jack Gillis, author of The Car Book, has been steering consumers to safe and reliable cars for more than 40 years. Gillis is also executive director of the Consumer Federation of America. Additional car-buying resources: Shortage of New Cars Results in Fewer Choices and Higher Prices Buying Your Leased Car Could Be a Smart Move (Right Now) Used Cars Often Sold with Dangerous Defects Vehicle Service Contract Plans Are Big Hassles and Bad Deals for Most Drivers CarBargains: Get the Best Price on a New Car Consumerpedia listeners who aren't Checkbook subscribers are invited to access our ratings, undercover price research, and expert advice free for 30 days using this link: https://checkbook.org/consumerpedia

【句子】It's not my fault. I gave money to this guy. He is the one who ripped us off. 【Modern Family S03E05】 【发音】/ɪts/ /nɒt/ /nɑːt/ /maɪ/ /fɒlt/ /fɑːlt/ /aɪ/ /geɪv/ /ˈmʌn.i/ /tʊ/ /ðɪs/ /gaɪ/ /hiː/ /ɪz/ /ðə/ /wʌn/ /huː/ /rɪpt/ /ʌs/ /ɒf/ /ɑːf/【发音技巧】not my不完全爆破；ripped us off两处连读；【翻译】这不是我的错，我把钱给了那个家伙，是他把我们给忽悠了。【适用场合】今天我们来学习一下rip off这个短语的意思。重点学习两个用法和意思：1. If someone rips you off, they cheat you by charging you too much money for something or by selling you something that is broken or damaged.敲某个人的竹杠；敲诈某个人；讹某个人的钱eg: The Consumer Federation claims banks are ripping you off by not passing along savings on interest rates. 消费者联合会声称，银行没有把存款的利息给你的行为，是在欺诈你。eg: This is a false advertising campaign that ripped off a great many consumers.这是一个欺骗了很多消费者的虚假广告活动。eg: The agency really ripped us off.那位代理商狠狠地敲了我们一笔。2. 偷窃，盗取to steal sth.eg: Somebody had come in and ripped off the TV and the stereo.有人进来了，偷走了那台电视机和那台音响。eg: She ripped off a leather jacket while trying on clothes.她在试衣服的时候偷了一件皮夹克。eg: Cars get ripped off all the time around here.这里的车经常被偷。这个短语其实在日常生活中还有其他的意思，大家听完今天的节目之后可以做做功课哦。【尝试翻译以下句子，并留言在文章留言区】那些游客们担心自己会被宰。

In this episode, we're joined by Angela Caban, Director of Military Saves at the Consumer Federation of America, and a military spouse herself. She shares info about Military Saves Month, including what the month means, how to take the pledge and how the organization partners with Navy Federal. Expect conversation around the work Military Saves does to help servicemembers and vets commit to better savings habits, savings misconceptions in the military and more.These products are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guaranteed or obligations of Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU), are not offered, recommended, sanctioned, or encouraged by the federal government, and may involve investment risk, including possible loss of principal.

Barbara Roper, director for investor protection at the Consumer Federation of America, has spent more than three decades advocating for American investors and fair markets. She joins this episode to talk about the impact of financial regulation on under-informed investors, how she advocates for them in the rule-making process, and her views on market conduct that deserves the attention of the Biden administration.

Listen in to the fifth panel of the LEC's Civil Justice Fest, a webinar series held throughout the month of November aimed to help make sense of America's rapidly changing civil justice environment. This panel discussion featured: Eric Goldman, Professor of Law, Santa Clara University School of Law Jeremy K. Robinson, Partner, Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP Jamie Susskind, Vice President of Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Consumer Technology Association Rachel Weintraub, Legislative Director and General Counsel, Consumer Federation of America Moderator: J. Campbell (“Cam”) Barker, Judge, US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas  

Police make an arrest in Salinas, CA. In 2018, an estimated 66% of people detained in California jails could not make bail. (Photo: flickr) 0:08 – Bolivia's Movement Toward Socialism Party wins in a landslide Linda Farthing (@LCFarthing) is a journalist and researcher currently writing her fourth book on Bolivia. 0:34 – Debate: Prop 24 – Consumer privacy Yes: Ariel Fox Johnson is Senior Counsel on Policy and Privacy with Common Sense Media, a group that rates content for age-appropriateness, and with the “Yes on Prop 24” campaign.  No: Richard Holober is President of the Consumer Federation of California, and with the “No on Prop 24” campaign.  1:08 – Oakland City Council to vote on “Encampment Management Policy” Natalie Orenstein (@nat_orenstein) covers housing and homelessness for The Oaklandside. Her latest piece is A controversial homelessness policy comes to the Oakland City Council on Tuesday. Here's how to watch. Oakland City Council Meeting: Today, Tuesday 10/20 at 1:30pm, see login details here. 1:21 – KPFA News: California is one of only ten states that ban affirmative action by public institutions. Voters put that ban into the state's constitution in 1996. But that could change this fall, when voters get a chance to overturn the ban with proposition 16. KPFA elections reporter Ariel Boone (@arielboone) has this story on how we got here. 1:34 – Debate: Prop 25 – Ending Cash Bail Yes: John Bauters is the Budget Advocacy Director with Californians for Safety and Justice, and with the “Yes on Prop 25” campaign.  No: Robert J. Apodaca is the co-founder of California Community Builders, a non-profit affordable housing developer, and with the “No on Prop 25” campaign.  The post Bolivia: Socialist party wins landslide election, one year after coup; Plus: Live debates on Prop 24 consumer privacy, and Prop 25 ending cash bail appeared first on KPFA.

What are consumer advocates doing right now? Jason Hartman talks with the executive director of Consumer Federation of America, Jack Gillis, about where his focus is right now. With COVID-19 playing such a large role in every aspect of business, it's no wonder that there have been a large number of related scams introduced in 2020. As well, Jack and Jason talk about the less obviously affected industries from COVID-19 associated problems, like the automotive industry and it's struggles due to the lack of car accidents. Finally, these two discuss possible solutions for media concentration and the issues with big tech's ever-growing power and influence.  Key Takeaways: [3:25] What is the state in consumer advocacy in the world today? [7:15] COVID-19 has provided ample opportunity for scammers. [11:00] Jack discusses the importance of credit rating and how COVID forbearances should not have a negative impact on them. [15:15] There is no fundamental responsibility for investment advisors or financial advisors to operate as true fiduciaries.  [16:45] A debate for the ages, do regulations make it impossible for startups to compete with companies that have solid footing? [19:25] The accident rate for automobiles has gone down exponentially, which in turn is causing a negative side effect on the automotive industry.  [23:45] Is there a solution for media concentration? [25:40] The big tech has become too big. Websites: www.consumerfed.org www.JasonHartman.com 1-800-HARTMAN

Thomas Gremillion, director of food policy with the Consumer Federation of America, speaks with the Food Institute's Chris Campbell on the state of U.S. food safety in the wake of the pandemic. Topics covered include worker and product safety at meatpacking and poultry plants; temporary reductions in regulatory oversight and declining foodborne illness outbreak reports; and the safety of CBD and GMO products in the food industry.

This is the latest installment of "Question of Note," in which we take a listener's question — your question! — and find just the right the person to answer it. See them all here as we go along. Got a Question of Note you'd like answered? Email notetoself@wnyc.org with a voice memo. Here's how to record one.  Listener Aaron Oesting, who describes himself as a "digital nomad," moves around a lot. And in the process, he read a few articles (like these in LifeHacker and the Wall Street Journal) on a phenomenon that has him worried: “I read a magazine article about how online retailers vary pricing based on the location of your IP address, so if you live in a more expensive community you might get more expensive pricing. And my question is: Is that practice right? And then second, am I really getting the best deal when I comparison shop online?"  To answer Aaron's question, we brought in Bob Phillips, a professor of business at Columbia University's Business School. So the answer to his Aaron's question? Yes, online retailers will set their prices based on how much they believe you're willing to pay, and the technology keeps getting more sophisticated. Amazon changes prices all the time based on time of day. Most large retailers experiment with different prices and adjust accordingly minute by minute. Dynamic pricing isn't a new practice. In fact, haggling and adjusting price has been around much longer than the "fixed" prices we're used to in most brick and mortar stores. But for the most part, consumers today really, really, really don't like the idea that prices are going to shift on them, unless they're thinking about airfares (though that didn't go over so well at first either). Take the pushback against Coca-Cola's proposed summertime price hike. However, according to Phillips, it's price discrimination that can present an actual problem: People being charged different prices based on a certain demographic factor, including location and/or socioeconomics. "Price discrimination differentiation is simply put trying to charge different people, different prices for the same item, based on their willingness to pay." Robert J. Hunter, Director of Insurance at the Consumer Federation of America, has spent quite a bit of time over the past few years digging into what he calls insidious price discrimination in the insurance industry. Insurance companies have always set rates based on risk, including assumptions based on gender and age. That said, the heavily-regulated industry does not allow consumers with the same agreed-upon risk to pay substantially different rates. And that, he says, is exactly what he found happening. The people least likely to comparison shop -- including, The Brookings Institute says, many lower-income consumers -- actually found themselves paying higher rates than their contemporaries.  Consumer Reports calls this the 'Schmo Tax." Thus, thanks to Aaron, we're bringing you a story that was until recently buried in actuarial literature meant for insurance brokers.  Hey, we do what we can. Want to see whether you're paying different prices for the same goods and services? Try setting up a proxy server or VPN to obfuscate your IP address.  And if you want to get the best deal online? Shop around. Big Data will see you doing it and adjust your rates accordingly. Subscribe to Note to Self on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, I Heart Radio, or anywhere else using our RSS feed.

Ralph talks to Professor Allison Stanger about her book One Nation Under Contract and how private contractors have become an integral part of our foreign policy.  We also talk to Bob Hunter, insurance director of the Consumer Federation of America, who warns us about the latest scam that may be affecting your auto insurance rates.  Plus, Ralph tells us how you should be "getting steamed."