Over the past few months, there’ve been a series of studies analyzing ZIP codes in terms of their home values, going state by state to identify the most expensive ones. Through these analyses of monthly home values, as well as financial data from the Census Bureau, these studies have identified the most expensive ZIP codes in various New England states, such as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, among others. Now, it’s time to take on New Hampshire and its most expensive ZIP codes. So, read on to find out the most expensive ZIP codes in New Hampshire in 2025,…

“We need more cash to cover college: Is it a good idea to use a HELOC or student loans?” asked a client, recently. Amid rising tuition fees and increased uncertainty around the future of higher education funding, American families are seeking alternative strategies from conventional aid. Were I to send my kids to my alma mater, it would cost 35% more than when I attended, and that’s after accounting for inflation. Parents have gotten creative in financing these rapidly inflating college expenses. Enter the HELOC (Home Equity Line Of Credit), which requires the use of home equity to secure financing,…

Republican lawmakers have proposed a massive overhaul of the student loan system, both in how families will pay for college, and how borrowers will repay their student loans. The key student loan repayment proposal involves reducing the number of repayment plan options to two: a standard fully-amortized plan and an income-based repayment plan dubbed the “Repayment Assistance Plan” (RAP). Designed with a flat income-percentage model and child-based deductions, RAP would replace existing income-driven repayment plans for new borrowers. The legislation also phases out forgiveness after 20 or 25 years for a 30-year timeline, with interest and principal subsidies to prevent…

Repayment Assistance Plan Is Part Of House GOP Proposed Student Loan Forgiveness And Repayment Overhaul In late April 2025, the House Education and Workforce Committee, led by Republican lawmakers, unveiled a comprehensive student loan reform proposal with a significant new income-driven repayment option. This plan, officially called the Repayment Assistance Plan, aims to make student loan payments more manageable for future borrowers while solving a vexing problem: balances that grow instead of shrink. Here’s precisely how this new plan would work in practice if enacted. What Is The Repayment Assistance Plan? On April 28, 2025, House committee members introduced a…

House Republicans unveiled a long-awaited legislative proposal on Monday to overhaul the federal student loan system. If enacted, the bill would make profound changes to federal aid and student loan repayment plans, and would cut off or push out student loan forgiveness for millions of borrowers. The release of legislative text is the next step in a lengthy process called reconciliation, whereby GOP leaders hope to be able to make significant changes to government spending and taxation through a budget process that allows legislation to pass Congress with simple majorities in the House and the Senate. This would allow Republicans…

House GOP Student Loan Plan Would End Most Income-Driven Repayment Plans On Monday, Republicans on the House Education and Workforce Committee unveiled their proposed plans for higher education reform as part of the broader Republican budget reconciliation process. The 103-page bill House GOP Student Loan Plan includes student loan proposals that could reshape how Americans take on and repay college debt. “Colleges have ridden this gravy train of taxpayer dollars without any accountability for the quality of the education they provide or whether students can find jobs when they graduate,” Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) said in a press release.…

When it comes to retirement planning, most people know they need to save, but few understand how certain retirement investment strategies can impact the amount of income they’ll actually have. In this article, we’ll explore four different retirement investment strategies and how each affects your ability to replace 70% of your pre-retirement income: 100% All Country World Index (ACWI ETF) 60% All Country World Index (ACWI ETF) and 40% US Aggregate Bond (AGG ETF) 20% All Country World Index (ACWI ETF) and 80% US Aggregate Bond (AGG ETF) 100% All Country World Index (ACWI) before retirement, switching to 60% ACWI…

Much of the early talk about the Trump administration’s tariffs centered on bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States. There supposedly would be many more high-paying jobs with solid benefits. But without a coherent plan, an objective look at the state of manufacturing, and a clear-eyed recognition of what a change would actually do, a factory renaissance remains out of reach. Here are some considerations and realities keeping things relatively steady. Trump’s And Biden’s History Of Manufacturing Jobs As policy debates and judgment of candidates take shape, research in multiple disciplines have shown how voters lack long memory of…

Recent developments have raised serious concerns about the stability of Social Security benefits. For example, Newsweek reports that former Social Security Administration commissioner Martin O’Malley has warned of potential delays in benefit payments in the near future. This is impacted by new pressures on the federal budget, stricter eligibility verifications, and targeted cuts which are reshaping the landscape for retirees. Although Social Security has historically been a reliable source of income, emerging political and fiscal challenges could lead to delays or reductions in payments. Given these risks, it is crucial for retirees and near-retirees to proactively adjust their financial strategies…

The Department of Education appears to have removed a key new feature of the StudentAid.gov website that has allowed borrowers to track their student loan forgiveness progress. The removal comes just days after advocacy organizations issued urgent warnings to borrowers to screenshot their data. In January, the Biden administration published the long-awaited IDR payment tracker for borrowers in income-driven repayment plans. IDR plans are programs authorized by Congress that feature affordable payments tied to a borrower’s family size and income, with the possibility student loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years in repayment. The IDR payment tracker displays key information…