Articles - DWD Community

The Exclusive Investment Playground: Cracking Open Private Equity

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Building Equity.

On a recent Level Up Podcast episode, co-host Addison Wiggin posed a provocative question to Certified Financial Planner Preston Zapffe: Should 401(k) funds be allowed to invest in private equity? The discussion tapped into a deeper tension in American finance—between access and exclusivity. Preston sees potential for expanding opportunity. Addison, however, voiced sharp concerns: private equity, he argues, is simply not built for average retirement savers. Their conversation inspired a bigger question: What is private…

Digita1Ninja June 30, 2025

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The $1-a-Day Snowball

This entry is part 9 of 12 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

You don’t need a windfall. Or a miracle. Or a sudden six-figure job offer. You need a dollar. Not a metaphorical one. A literal, wrinkled, boring dollar. The kind you find under couch cushions or in the dryer with lint and a button from 1997. Because when used consistently, even that dollar can set off a financial chain reaction more powerful than most people realize. The Modest Habit That Builds Real Capital Let’s say you…

MoneySprout June 28, 2025

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Dealing With Debt Joins NASFAA to Expand Financial Literacy Support Across Higher Education and Strengthen Title IV Compliance Efforts

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Press Releases.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Austin, TX — June 24, 2025 — Dealing With Debt (DWD), the nonprofit social platform dedicated to financial education and community-based wellness, proudly announces its new membership with the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). This strategic move furthers DWD’s mission to support financial literacy and wellness across diverse educational environments—empowering students and recent graduates to build financially healthy lives. As colleges and universities nationwide work to…

Digita1Ninja June 24, 2025

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Why Wealth Isn’t Complicated—Just Rarely Practiced

This entry is part 8 of 12 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

If you’ve ever felt like wealth is some elite club you weren’t invited to, you’re not alone. The way it’s sold—charts, jargon, hedge funds, TikTok stock tips—it’s easy to believe there’s some hidden formula known only to people who wear loafers without socks. But here’s the truth, stripped of all the flash: Wealth isn’t complicated. It’s just rarely practiced. That’s not a motivational poster. It’s a reality check. The Illusion of Complexity People often assume…

MoneySprout June 20, 2025

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Dealing With Debt Joins CECU as Allied Partner Member

This entry is part 2 of 3 in the series Press Releases.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Expanding Financial Literacy Support to Trade Schools Nationwide (view official release) Austin, TX – June 20, 2025 Dealing With Debt (DWD), a nonprofit financial literacy and wellness social media platform, is proud to announce its acceptance as an Allied Partner Member of the Career Education Colleges and Universities (CECU), the national association representing postsecondary career education institutions. This strategic alignment marks a significant step in both organizations shared mission to prepare…

Digita1Ninja June 20, 2025

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What To Expect From A Debt Management Plan

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Getting Out of Debt.

In 2024, American Consumer Credit Counseling clients paid off around $191,257,429.83 in debt! Debt Management Plans help people regain control of their financial lives by consolidating their debts into a single, manageable monthly payment. Here’s what you can expect when you enroll in a Debt Management Plan (DMP) with American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC). What to Expect from a Debt Management Plan Personalized Financial Assessment The process begins with a thorough financial assessment conducted by…

TwinCityMama June 19, 2025

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College or Something Else?

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Career Minded.

A Father’s Dilemma in a World That Demands Both I’m a Black man with a 17-year-old son. He’s a rising senior in high school—bright, kind, curious, figuring out who he is and where he wants to go. And right now, like a lot of parents, I’m trying to guide him through one of the most complex choices he’ll ever face: College… or something else? For decades, the answer was simple. College was the path. If…

DigitalNinja June 18, 2025

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The GI Bill Grift

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Military Life.

How Scammers Target Veterans’ Education Benefits You’ve served your country. You’ve earned your stripes, your salute, and yes, your GI Bill benefits. It’s time to plan for civilian life. Many veterans look to higher education as the next mission. But just like what your recruiter tells you, not everything is as straightforward as it seems. Among the legitimate schools and training programs are scammers looking to cash in on your hard-earned benefits. Let’s look at…

Data-Defense-Maestro June 13, 2025

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Budget Like a CEO

This entry is part 4 of 4 in the series Rebuilding.

Applying Business Finance Principles to Personal Debt Management Most of us weren’t taught how to manage money growing up. We figured it out through trial and error—mostly error. We learned by overdrafting accounts, maxing out credit cards, or juggling bills and hoping nothing bounced. For a lot of people, especially those carrying debt or coming out of a financial crisis, budgeting feels like punishment. Like one more reminder of what’s not working. But what if…

InfGurl June 11, 2025

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From Patience to Plastic: America Became a Nation of Consumers

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series CIDS.

There was a time when people dreamed big, saved slow, and bought only when they had the cash in hand. Our grandparents told stories of scrimping for years to buy a car. Of walking past store windows and saying, “One day, when we’ve saved enough.” That mindset wasn’t about deprivation—it was about pride. It was about ownership that was earned, not borrowed. But something shifted. And now? We live in a country where the question…

Digita1Ninja June 8, 2025

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