The settlement announced by the Justice Department Thursday involves at least 34,000 [black and Hispanic] borrowers who were charged higher fees or were steered into risky subprime mortgages when they could have qualified for a prime mortgage, ones offered to borrowers with the best credit. In settling, Wells Fargo said it “not only denies that it discriminated unlawfully, but affirmatively asserts that it has treated all of its customers without regard to race or national origin,” according to the consent order. The company is entering the settlement “solely for the purpose of avoiding contested litigation with the Department of Justice,” the order said. [WSJ]
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Sponsored Content
SoFi Answers the Call to Refinance Student Loans and Provides Unique Community Benefits
This is a guest post written by SoFi’s CEO, Mike Cagney.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Recently, there’s been a lot of talk amongst leaders in Washington about how to improve the painful process of repaying student loans. At SoFi, we feel your pain and work hard to offer more flexible, more affordable options for our borrowers. One idea that’s getting a lot of attention is increasing the options for refinancing debt after graduation. The only lender currently focused on refinancing private and federal student loans is SoFi.
We recognized early on that borrowers who have made timely payments on their loans, graduated from school, and have a job should be able to refinance their student loans at a lower interest rate. This may be why, after resuming lending by invitation, the media became increasingly interested in what we are doing.
In a recent article posted on MainStreet.com SoFi General Counsel Rob Lavet had this to say about SoFi’s ReFi products:
“We can offer a better deal than the federal government in terms of rates […].We offer borrowers who meet our underwriting criteria a package that pays off their federal and existing private student loans at a rate as low as 5.49%. Some lenders will do a consolidation on private loans, but we’re the first lender to offer to refinance a federal loan at a lower rate.”
Journalists from the USA TODAY, The Chronicle for Higher Education, the American Banker among others, also found themselves reporting on how SoFi is “using social communities and offering refinancing of student loans.“ It is this social community aspect that makes refinancing with SoFi so valuable. By connecting borrowers with a community literally invested in their success, the benefits of a SoFi loan go beyond saving money.
How many student lenders do you know that will help unemployed borrowers find a new job? SoFi does just that – engaging with borrowers who are actively looking for new employment opportunities and leveraging the networks of all members eager to help these individuals achieve new heights in their career.
Our Entrepreneur Program is another example of SoFi’s community in action connecting like-minded borrowers and investors in support of new business creation. We combine mentoring sessions for participants with exclusive access to the venture capital community.
SoFi wants to help borrowers realize their goals beyond paying off student debt. Whether seeking employment opportunities, career advice, partners for entrepreneurial ventures, access to industry luminaries, or simply a like-minded network, our members benefit from a supportive community of people vested in one another’s success.
Learn more about SoFi’s refinancing programs and community benefits at www.SoFi.com
You know what they say: You can’t choose your family, but you can choose your financial planner. Or something like that. One of the great things of being in charge of your money is choosing who (if anyone) will help you manage it. The choice isn’t always an easy one. How will you know that your planner is reputable and trustworthy?
These five red flags may be good indications of whether the financial planner sitting across from you is someone you should trust with your money. LearnVest Planning also provides an innovative 7-step program for your money where you work one-on-one with a financial planner. To see if this program is right for you, start with a free financial consultation.
1. She Isn’t Certified
“There are a lot of good planners out there who aren’t Certified Financial Panners™,” says Samantha Vient, CFP®, of LearnVest Planning Services. “However, CFPs® are required to adhere to the CFP® Board’s standards of professional conduct.We believe it’s always a good idea to work with someone who has the CFP® designation, which is issued after completing a CFP® Board-approved personal financial planning curriculum, passing a rigorous exam issued by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, meeting experience requirements and passing an ethics and background check.
2. He Offers to Manage Your Money for “Free”
Financial planners are usually paid in one of two ways: Either through fee-only, which can be a set fee, hourly, retainer or a percentage of the assets they manage for you, or through commission, which means the planner is paid each time he buys or sells an investment.Fee-only payment structures can be more desirable to some clients, as there’s no financial incentive based on assets under management for a planner to buy or sell, whereas working on commission encourages planners to make trades, rather than solely look out for your best interest—called a “fiduciary” duty. (You want to be sure that the planner you choose is a fiduciary.)
LearnVest Planning Services provides the services of fee-only Certified Financial Planners™. Get started for free with a 15-minute financial consultation.
3. She Says She Outperforms the Market
“If a financial planner tells you that she can outperform the market, that’s a major red flag,” Vient explains. “In fact, due to government regulations, it’s illegal to advertise statements that promise a specific return.”Outperforming the market—that is, getting better investment returns than the market average—is extremely difficult to do consistently, and requires taking a lot of risks with your investments. It’s rare to find a financial planner who can consistently outperform the market—and results are never guaranteed. Either way, in the pursuit of these high returns, she’ll be exposing your investments to much higher risk than you may be comfortable with.
Instead, look for a CFP® who, when looking at your portfolio, can advise on proper asset allocation based on your risk tolerance and time horizon, as well as through economic ups and downs.
4. She Doesn’t Ask About Your Financial Goals
“Your planner isn’t just there to crunch the numbers,” Vient advises. “She’s helping you make a plan for your money and your life. You should be looking for someone who has similar values to you.”Ideally, you’ll likely want to work with someone who is in a similar life stage. Are you a parent? A planner with children may be better able to understand your need to save for college. Does your CFP® have a specialty? Some planners have an area of expertise, like insurance, estate planning, divorce or retirement—a fact you might want to consider if that’s a particular need of yours.
When meeting a potential planner, remember that you’re allowed to ask questions about their experience and priorities: “Do you think it’s more important to save for retirement or pay off debt? How do you feel about supporting kids through college? How do you mitigate investment risk as your clients get older?”
The choices you make with your money are intensely personal. The person who helps you make these choices should be able to understand and accept your financial priorities, and help you use your money to meet them.
5. His Management Style Makes You Uncomfortable
Financial planners can manage your money for you or manage your money with you. As different people have different needs when it comes to money management, there is no right way to work with a planner—it’s up to you to decide how hands-on you want him to be.
When you sign on with a financial planner, there will be a written agreement of how the two of you will manage your money. Read this carefully, and ask questions if you’re unsure about anything. Are you signing your accounts over to this planner? Will he check in with you before making a trade, or when rebalancing your accounts? If you’re uncomfortable with anything in the agreement, bring it up immediately.Learn more about LearnVest Planning and our financial planners by visiting learnvest.com. To book your free consultation today, email FA_Support@learnvest.com or complete your request online.
LearnVest Planning Services is a registered investment adviser. The opinions expressed in this article are that of LearnVest Planning Services, a registered investment adviser. The advice provided may not be suitable for your individual situation and you should discuss your situation with a financial professional.
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B&H Borrowers: $175 million? But that's like only $5,000 each, right?
Lawyer: Yes, that's correct. Now GTFO
Another successful blackmail.
Imagine the possibilities this one presents. KFC discriminating by selling their "chicken" to minorities, Welch's grape soda… all kinds of good stuff coming down the pipe!
You are not funny. Just thought you should know, since you clearly don't.
"Whyyy youuuu motherfuckerrssss…"
-Porterhouse
you suck
"We're coming for you next Barclays"
-B&H homeowner who doesn't understand libor
Dont you still have to agree to the contract and actually enter into the agreement by signing your name to the papers?
-Guy who understands personal acocuntability
But can't actually spell "Accountability"
Give him credit for working in both coc and cunt into his misspell.
We have examined our motives.
-Laconic Wells Fargo Press Secretary
Damn, and all this time I though Wells Fargo is an equal opportunity fucker over.
The Patriot Act requires you to "Know Your Customer"…so…we're good, yes?
-not lee greenwood but a fan of his jacket
Blacks and hispanics will never see a dime of this. It goes to paying lawyer's salaries and keeping the Justice Dept. refrigerators full of juices for team building cleansing exercises. That's how you do a shakedown.
One more outburst liek that and you'll be held in contempt!
"In light of the fact that we originate 33% of all American mortgages at this point, we the management of Wells Fargo have decided to do – what we like, when we like, to whomever we like – for all of eternity…"
Sincerely
Guy who wonders if 65% WF mortgage market share concentration will be level to spark concern
And here I am thinking we just screw over our employees.
- J Stumpf
So they're basically claiming the govt is extorting them…why not sue back?
going for -500…
Don't worry, we will.
Hey, if it weren't for our ability to make outrageous profits by gouging our least sophisticated customers through excessive fees, misleading disclosures and high interest subprime loans, we wouldn't have to lent to "those people" at all. So, if you think about it, the Justice Department should be thanking us, not suing us. Yeah, that's right. We're freakin' heros! You're welcome, B&H America.
-Wells Fargo Department of Racially-Based Credit Standards
We settled ours with a shit load of free grand slam breakfasts.
-Denny's General Counsel
what about them asians? are we not good enough to even be discriminated against?
-outraged chinese
I voted you up just because I knew you wouldn't like it.
I HOLD MYSELF IN CONTEMPT
We know you can do math.
– Sr. VP of mortgage origination (and closet racist)
Wells Fargo
Tree flava chips? Off the hook!
B
Yeah like KFC totally could've sold the lower interest rate chicken to the minorities
Yeah like totally these minorities were probably given two sets of contracts, one for a prime loan and one for a subprime loan, and they managed to sign the subprime loan. Idiots.
Lawyer: actually its only $2500 each after i take my cut
Why you hating, playah?
Jesse & Al
Sure we'll make the good folks some loans with down-payment assistance.
Then we'll bundle them into GNMA securities and sell them back to you so you can eat the 35% default rate on these exceedingly shitty deals.
Excuse, that I interfere, there is an offer to go on other way.