By Jonathan McFadden on February 7, 2020
Richard Konopka wakes up with a lot more smiles and a lot fewer migraines these days. That’s a big life change from nearly a decade ago, when his marriage ended in a divorce that wreaked havoc... read more
By Jonathan McFadden on September 16, 2019
For most of his adult life, Carmine’s credit score was 800 or higher. But after 20-plus years as the owner of a successful retail company, his business tumbled, and his credit took a hit. A really... read more
By Jonathan McFadden on August 28, 2019
On paper, there’s no way James Muffoletto should’ve been able to buy his two-story, $320,000 home in a lakeside Chicago suburb this summer. He had bad credit. He worked full-time while going... read more
By Jonathan McFadden on August 14, 2019
On the outside, Ranetta Whiting’s 2013 Volkswagen CC Sport was a beaut with its candy white paint, luxurious design and alloy wheels. Under the hood, it was a different story. “I had to fix... read more
By Jonathan McFadden on August 1, 2019
Mike Stilwell has spent nearly two years prettying his kitchen and two bathrooms so he can sell his 2,100-square-foot home in Southern California. But last February, as he prepared to add ceramic... read more
By Melissa Wylie on July 15, 2019
Jennifer Dwyer used family savings three years ago to start a specialty cheese and charcuterie shop in Cape Cod, Mass. But when she needed outside capital to help make ends meet, her bank turned her... read more