The Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA) is a membership association comprised of the nation’s leading credit counseling agencies. Its members provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management and various financial education services to consumers across the United States.
To schedule an interview with an FCAA financial counseling expert, please submit a request online, and we will respond within 24 hours. If you are on an immediate deadline, please call Lori Pollack at 866-278-1567.
Consumers pass the point of no return financially when creditors charge off one or more of their accounts. Reaching out for help can be life-changing, but only if you choose wisely among many possible solutions.
A job loss or financial emergency could cause you to miss a debt payment. What should you do to minimize the impact? The FCAA suggests steps to help you catch up and minimize damage to your credit.
The FCAA's Martin Lynch talks with reporter about the importance of budgeting, especially for those who see credit delinquencies on the horizon. Lynch encourages people to see budgeting as "a tool to preserve your lifestyle."
Credit counselors Michael F. Sullivan and Karen Carlson, who represent FCAA member agencies, advise parents on the advantages and pitfalls of teaching your child early on how to manage money and use credit cards responsibly.
Listen to the interview with CNBC senior personal finance correspondent Sharon Epperson who explains ways to cut spending and build a manageable budget. She also talks about how the FCAA can help with its free budget builder and certified credit counselors.
Seriously overdue credit card debt is at the highest level in more than a decade, and people 35 and under are struggling more than other age groups to pay their bills. The FCAA offers advice in this interview.
While using credit cards can help fill in the gaps in your budget, it comes at a hefty price. One of the hardest parts of facing your credit card journey is looking at the mountain of credit card debt you've accrued. But, it's also one of the first steps in managing it.
The FCAA talks with The Wall Street Journal about how households grappling with high-interest debt and the resumption of student-loan repayments could benefit from non-profit financial counseling and debt management.
The upcoming holiday season can bring a mixture of emotions for many people. When money is tight, joyful gatherings and gift exchanges can cause anxiety and stress. Follow these smart strategies to stay out of debt over the holidays. Holiday giving and how people pay People love to give around
Prepare for your student loan bill and learn about options to help with student loan debt After a three-year pause, federal student loan repayments started up again on October 1. For nearly 45 million borrowers, the added burden of student loan payments may make life a lot harder. Today, many
FCAA member agencies have industry experts who can speak on a variety of personal finance topics – including credit card debt, student loan debt, housing-related debts and living on a budget. We will be happy to connect you to the best source depending on your topic.
Representing the organization directly, FCAA president, Martin Lynch, is also available for media interviews.
We understand the nature of media deadlines and will respond to your resource requests quickly and efficiently.
Martin Lynch
President, FCAA
Martin Lynch is President of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a membership and trade association comprised of 21 non-profit credit counseling agencies providing free and nominal fee-based services to consumers nationwide. For two decades, he has also served as Compliance Manager and Director of Education at Cambridge Credit Counseling in Agawam, Massachusetts. In addition to his compliance duties, Lynch also conducts free seminars and webinars for a variety of nonprofits representing teachers and public employee unions; public schools and colleges; and incarcerated individuals preparing for their release into the community, among other groups. He is an authority on personal finance and has been cited in articles appearing in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, MSN.com, Money, NerdWallet, LendingTree and a host of other news outlets. In 2024, Lynch was invited to participate in the U.S. State Department’s Business Fellows program, serving as a host and advisor to business executives from El Salvador.
Lynch is available to speak on a variety of finance topics, including: