Ethics in the Age of AI: Why Integrity Is the Most Valuable Asset in Business
Of course, we all strive to be good people. Of course, we know right from wrong… right? But ethics in business isn’t about textbook definitions or saying the right thing in a pitch deck. It’s about the choices we make every day—especially when nobody is looking. And let me tell you, in practice, it’s one […]
Why Financial Tools Should Protect, Not Exploit — A Conversation About Real Consumer Access
Let me start with something I wish more people would say out loud:The financial system was not designed with everyone in mind. In fact, in many ways, it was built around legacy access — old money, private networks, and generational wealth. If you don’t come from that world, navigating personal finance can feel like being locked […]
How My $16,000 Roof Replacement Taught Me to Trust No One (Especially in Chicago)
The dream of homeownership in Chicago often comes wrapped in charming brick facades and leafy streets. What they don’t tell you? The roof over your head might be a ticking time bomb, maintained by an industry where trust is the first casualty. This is the story of how I learned that lesson the hard way […]
8 Smart Reasons You Should Wait Before Buying a Home in Today’s Economy
Thinking about buying a home? Discover why delaying your purchase might be the smartest financial move in today’s unstable market. For generations, the idea of homeownership has been sold to us as the cornerstone of the American Dream — a symbol of stability, status, and success. But in 2025’s financially uncertain world, it’s time to […]
A Manifesto of Good Financial Services: Building Systems That Serve People, Not Exploit Them
“Finance is the nervous system of the modern world — and like any system, it must serve the body, not feed on it.” We live in a time of unprecedented financial technology and access. In just a few taps on a screen, you can transfer money across the world, apply for a mortgage, or invest […]
AI, Originality, and the Future of Mortgage Readiness
We’re living in an era where AI can create anything—articles, music, films, financial tools. The quality of these AI-generated products is already shockingly good and will only improve. In theory, we should be entering a golden age of accessibility and efficiency. But here’s the problem: great doesn’t always mean valuable. A tool, a product, a […]
Reflections from My European Travels: How I Learned to Appreciate the “Old World” and Mortgage Readiness
As I walked through the cobbled streets of Valencia, Spain, Aix-en-Provence, France, and Pisa, Italy, it became clear that the differences between life in Europe and life in the U.S. are more than just geographic. From the architecture to the attitudes, everything about these historic cities made me reflect deeply—not just on the cultures and […]
The Home Ownership Myth: Debunking the Investment Misconception
The phrase that ‘owning a home is an investment’ is tossed around a lot, but here we want to dive in a bit more deeply into the debate. Homeownership is often touted as the quintessential American Dream, symbolizing stability, success, and financial security. However, a pervasive misconception persists: the idea that owning a home is a surefire investment.
Reevaluating Lending Practices: The Flaws of Relying Solely on Gross Income and Understanding the Risks of W2 vs. Non-W2 Employment
The current practice of lending based solely on gross income without considering a borrower’s expenses can be flawed for several reasons, particularly in today’s economy: Cost of Living Disparities: Gross income does not account for variations in the cost of living across different regions or individual circumstances. A borrower with a high gross income in […]
Why I’m Choosing Not to Buy a House This Year
As someone who has experienced firsthand the shortcomings of the mortgage industry, I’ve come to the difficult decision of postponing my plans to buy a house this year. The systemic challenges and injustices within the mortgage industry have left me disillusioned and wary of entering into such a significant financial commitment. In this article, I […]