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.

How to Open a Certificate of Deposit (CD) for Your Child Learn how parents and guardians can open a certificate of deposit (CD) for children under the 18 years of age. Find out what the rules are when it comes to maintaining a custodial account -- including how interest earnings are reported when it comes to taxes. Is It Smarter to Pay Off a Student Loan or Auto Loan First? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Is It Smarter to Pay Off a Student Loan or Auto Loan First? Prioritizing debt payoff should generally focus on the loan with the highest... Legal Processing Fees: Why Do Banks Charge Them? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Legal Processing Fees: Why Do Banks Charge Them? Legal processing fees are charged by banks when they must review or act upon a legal... How to Get a Copy of Canceled Checks Learn how you can get a copy of canceled checks (known as checks deposited or returned), including why you'd want these check images and the fees involved. What Happens When Your IRA CD Reaches Maturity Learn what happens to your money when an IRA CD reaches maturity. Find out how you can move the funds to another IRA and ways that you can earn more interest with a CD renewal or CD ladder. Understand the differences between traditional and Roth IRAs so that you don't break any IRS rules. Which Credit Report Does Synchrony Bank Pull? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Which Credit Report Does Synchrony Bank Pull? Synchrony Bank primarily pulls credit reports from TransUnion when evaluating... Can You Pay Bills Directly from a Savings Account? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Can You Pay Bills Directly from a Savings Account? Yes, you can pay bills with a savings account but they're designed for long-term... Which Credit Report Does American Express Pull? Find out which credit report is used more often by American Express when it checks an applicant's credit to decide whether or not to grant approval for a new credit card or charge card. Learn how you can check your credit report for free or at a discount. See how you can improve your credit for higher chances of approval. What to Do If You’ve Become the Victim of a Subscription Scam Find out whether you should cancel your debit or credit card if you've given the payment information for a subscription scam that could threaten your credit. Which Credit Report Does Bank of America Pull? Photo of Thomas (TJ) Porter Thomas (TJ) Porter Which Credit Report Does Bank of America Pull? Bank of America primarily uses your Experian credit report when evaluating credit...