Articles by Thomas (TJ) Porter

TJ Porter has in-depth experience in reviewing financial products such as savings accounts, credit cards, and brokerages, writing how-tos, and answering financial questions. He has also contributed to publications and companies such as Investment Zen and Echo Fox. He aims to provide actionable advice that can help readers better their financial lives. Education: B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Information Systems from Northeastern University.

Should Your Pay Off Student Loans or Buy a Car? Find out whether you should use extra funds to buy a new car or to pay of existing student loan debt. Credit Card Closed? 6 Things You Need to Do Now Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Credit Card Closed? 6 Things You Need to Do Now Sometimes, you’ll have one of your credit card accounts closed. Whether you... Should You Contribute the Maximum to Your 401(k)? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Should You Contribute the Maximum to Your 401(k)? Almost everybody hopes to retire one day. The problem is that you need a lot of... Credit Counseling vs. Debt Settlement: What is Better for You? Compare credit counseling and debt settlement services to see which option is better for helping you get out of large amounts of debt, especially high-interest credit card balances. Learn about the benefits of each option and how much it costs. Find out what other options you might have available to you. How to Boost the Interest Rate on Your CDs? If you're looking for ways to get a higher interest rate on your certificates of deposit (CDs), consider these different ways to boost your APY. 8 Lenders That Refinance $100k Undergraduate Students Loans Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter 8 Lenders That Refinance $100k Undergraduate Students Loans Americans have a record amount of student loan debt and the amount is only growing... How to Start Building Good Credit as An Immigrant Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter How to Start Building Good Credit as An Immigrant The American financial system is large and complicated. The American immigration... How to Invest in a 401k With High Fees Even when you‘re stuck with an expensive 401(k) retirement plan that has high fees, learn how you can still use it to invest for the future. Does Your Age Matter When Applying for a Mortgage? Find out whether the age of the borrower on a mortgage application is considered a major factor in the chances of approval. Learn about the laws that apply to this matter. Consider the biggest underwriting guidelines for lenders, including income, expenses, and credit history. Good Credit May Be Required When Applying for a Green Card Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Good Credit May Be Required When Applying for a Green Card Immigrating to the United States takes a lot of work. You need to meet a number...