Member Since March 2024
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About
Howard S. Dvorkin is a serial entrepreneur, a twice-published author, and the founder and chairman of Debt.com. But one theme runs through all of his efforts: A personal hatred of personal debt. Dvorkin’s first international success was the founding of Consolidated Credit in 1993. Now one of North America’s largest and oldest nonprofit credit counseling agencies, Consolidated Credit has helped more than 10 million people achieve financial freedom. Dvorkin left the helm of Consolidated Credit and launched Debt.com, the nation’s first one-stop shop for solving every form of personal debt. Since then, the Florida-based firm has helped 3 million people resolve $12 billion of debt. Dvorkin also founded several fintech startups including Power Wallet, Financial Apps, All Clear Decisioning as well as Start Fresh Today. But his entrepreneurial interests aren’t limited to the financial sector. In 2011 he became the majority owner of the six-title Florida based Lifestyle Magazine Group and he expanded it to 11 titles before selling it in 2023. His real estate investments – both commercial and residential covering three states. Three decades of success in the financial industry has impressed national media outlets, who regularly interview Dvorkin – including The New York Times, Washington Post, CNBC, Money Magazine, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, Investor’s Business Daily, and virtually every national newspaper in the country. He has also appeared as a finance expert on national and local television and radio programs, including the CBS Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight, The Early Show, Fox News, and CNN. His first book, Credit Hell – How to Dig Out of Debt (Wiley & Sons, revised 2010) was a practical, step-by-step guide to budgeting, establishing good credit, and knowing your consumer rights. His second book, Power Up: Taking Charge of Your Financial Destiny (Wiley & Sons, 2013) studied both the financial and psychological stressors that propel people into debt, while offering proven solutions to overcome mind-and-money barriers to a worry-free life. “Dvorkin on Debt” is a compelling financial column where Howard delivers insightful advice and strategies to help readers effectively manage and overcome their debts. The column delves into a wide spectrum of debt-related topics, catering to individuals at different stages of their financial journey. Dvorkin discusses the psychological and emotional aspects of debt, exploring the reasons behind excessive borrowing and overspending. With an empathetic approach, he provides valuable tips on how to overcome the shame and guilt associated with debt, while emphasizing the importance of self-discipline and a positive mindset. A CPA who graduated from the University of Miami with a master’s degree in business administration and his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the American University, Dvorkin has served in the following roles: • Past president of the Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies (AICCCA) • Consultant to the Board of Directors for the Association of Credit Counseling Professionals (ACCPros) • Inducted into the prestigious 1923 Society at American University and is a member of the Kogod School of Business Advisory Council • Former member of the Board of Governors of The H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University He has received the following accolades: • Listed in the Marquis Who’s Who in the Finance Industry • Among the premier group of CPAs recognized with the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation • Named Heavy Hitter of the Year by The South Florida Business Journal • A two-time nominee for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award • Recipient of the South Florida Diamond Award for outstanding individuals who exhibit exceptional leadership In the aftermath of the 2018 mass shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland – his hometown – Dvorkin established Parkland Cares. Within two weeks, this new charitable organization was fundraising to provide mental health counseling for students, teachers, family members and anyone in the community who needed it. Since then, Parkland Cares’ mission has expanded to help all South Floridians in need of trauma counseling. Dvorkin’s efforts have raised more $1 million to support 14 mental-health agencies provide thousands of hours of care. In 2023, Dvorkin’s home county declared Sept. 8 of that year to be Howard S. Dvorkin Day. Dvorkin’s charitable giving and leadership is too long to list here, so this is just a sample: • Appointed to the Executive Board of the United Way of Broward County • Named a Laureate in the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame and former board member of the South Florida Chapter of Junior Achievement • Won the Israel Bonds Commemorative Medallion for working toward the betterment of Israel • Formerly the Chairman-Elect for the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida • Founding member of the South Florida American Heart Association Board of Directors • Board member of Henderson Behavioral Health
Howard Dvorkin
Published content
expert panel
Use these practical strategies to help you navigate seasonal spending in a less stressful way. Amid all the joy and cheer the end of the year brings, the holidays can be a hectic — and expensive — time. Purchasing gifts for loved ones, making travel plans, attending parties and enjoying the multitude of festive celebrations and events that crop up can end up putting a strain on one’s finances and detracting from the positive spirit of the season. But whether money is a bit tight this year or you are working toward a particular financial goal, you don’t have to sacrifice holiday cheer to stay on track with your spending. Consider implementing one or more of the following tips, as recommended by the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, to help you avoid overspending and enjoy this special time with your family and friends.
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Don’t wait until you’re no longer working to determine where your new income will come from. One of the biggest questions on the minds of soon-to-be retirees is, “Will I have enough money to live on when I retire?” Leaving the workforce and finally gaining back all your time for rest and relaxation is an exciting prospect, but being unsure about where your money will come from and what you will live off of can quickly turn a blessing into a nightmare. Whether you’ve been saving for retirement for years or you’ve only recently started, the uncertainty around whether or not you will have enough money to sustain you throughout the rest of your life can be truly terrifying, causing some people to delay retirement for longer than they’d like or to keep working well into their elderly years just to have the certainty of a regular income. But according to the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, taking the time to craft a plan for your retirement income can help ease — or even eliminate — those fears. Here, they each share their top piece of advice for creating a retirement income strategy that works and explain how having a well-thought-out plan will help give you peace of mind.
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In the world of credit, responsibility is greatly rewarded. If you’ve ever set up a credit card, you’ve likely heard the term “credit score.” This number helps creditors determine how likely you are to pay bills or pay back loans should you borrow money. This number can affect many aspects of your life, including your ability to rent an apartment, purchase the house you want, take out a loan or even buy a car. Having a low credit score can hold you back from reaching your full financial potential and accomplishing your goals. And while raising your score may seem like a huge hill to climb, there are a number of simple strategies you can use to help yourself get to the top faster. As financial leaders, the members of Kiplinger Advisor Collective know how frustrating it can be to have a number dictate your future. Here, they share easy tips anyone can use to improve their credit score, build better financial habits and take back control of their money.
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Tools and automations can help make budgeting less of a hassle. When it comes to saving money and growing your wealth, budgeting is a common solution that always seems to crop up. However, while building a budget is an effective step for some, others may find they have a hard time sticking to one long term. Whether it’s because they feel too restricted by the budget’s parameters or they simply find making one too complicated and time-consuming, many people struggle to reap the benefits of this money-planning technique. But this doesn’t mean that a budget isn’t for you. According to the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective, there are a few tricks you can use to make budgeting easier and possibly even more fun to do. Read on for their budgeting secrets and how you can finally stick to your budget for the long haul.
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In the financial world, it’s not just about knowing your numbers. Many think of finances as purely a numbers business, but in reality, it’s a people business too. Financial advisers work closely with their clients, often getting to know them on a deeper level than others might due to the sensitive nature of the work they do together. Discussing and receiving advice about one’s financial goals and personal money habits can be very vulnerable, and so working with a financial adviser who puts focus on their “soft skills” can be a much more comfortable and rewarding experience. Below, the financial experts of Kiplinger Advisor Collective touch on nine other reasons why financial advisers and other financial professionals should sharpen their soft skills, and address why doing so can make for much better client-adviser relationships.
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Awareness has its limitations.
Company details
Debt.com
Company bio
Our job is simple: It doesn’t matter what got you into debt, we’ll help get you out – and keep you out. That’s it. That’s all we do. And for 10 years, we’ve done it better than anyone else. Debt.com has helped millions of people get out of more than $12 billion in debt! We offer accurate and trusted information on professional debt solutions. Collectively, our staff of CPAs, certified financial counselors and debt specialists have more than a century of experience in the personal finance field. Our fact-checked articles and research follow our editorial guidelines and our goal is to make exploring debt relief options simple and safe. Debt.com is designed for anyone who wishes to have a sound financial future, who wants to get out of debt or stay out of debt. We are here to help you “when life happens.”