The Senate’s final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill was released last night, and it introduces a complete overhaul of student loan repayment – for both existing borrowers and new borrowers. This comes after last minute changes removed some key provisions GOP lawmakers wanted. For new borrowers who take out student loans after July 1, 2026, they will only have two options: a new Standard Plan, or an income-driven repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP). Furthermore, new borrowers will face lower student loan borrowing limits and changes to loan types. For existing borrowers, there will not be…

A student loan borrower legal organization is urging certain borrowers to take immediate action or they may lose access to key repayment plans and loan forgiveness paths as Congress moves forward with major legislative changes. “ATTENTION Parent PLUS Borrowers: Protect your student loan options,” said the Project on Predatory Student Lending in a statement posted on X on Friday. “Congress’ Reconciliation Bill could eliminate Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) options for Parent PLUS borrowers.” But the situation is extremely complicated for Parent PLUS borrowers right now. Many borrowers may not be able to afford their student loan payments under the main IDR…

Many investors believe that fossil fuels are essential for strong retirement investment returns. But is that actually true? In this article, we test that assumption—comparing the performance of portfolios with and without fossil fuel exposure. While we focus mainly on investment performance (also known as risk-adjusted return), we also explore considerations for those who care about aligning their portfolio with environmental values. We’ll break down investment performance, explore fossil fuel-free indexes, and offer practical steps for values-minded investors. Whether you’re saving through a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), or taxable account, it’s worth understanding your options. Retirement Investment: Discerning Fossil Fuels…

The Trump Account proposal is viewed by supporters as a gift for a good start in life: The federal government will provide a one-time payment of $1,000 to each child born in the U.S. According to the White House statement, these accounts “will afford a generation of children the chance to experience the miracle of compounded growth and set them on a course for prosperity from the very beginning.” The question before us is whether the Trump Accounts can reduce the wealth gap and increase the chances of individual economic success. Through a Latino lens, the details matter. The Trump…

President Donald Trump’s administration is reportedly considering an executive order to open the $9 trillion U.S. retirement market to private equity and alternative investments, a transformative shift for 401(k) plans. This directive would task the Department of Labor, Treasury, and Securities and Exchange Commission with exploring ways to integrate private funds into retirement plans, as reported by Pensions & Investments, benefiting firms like Blackstone and Apollo Global Management. Empower, the nation’s second-largest retirement plan provider, has already partnered with Apollo, Franklin Templeton, Goldman Sachs, Neuberger Berman, PIMCO, Partners Group and Sagard to offer private market investments via collective investment trusts.…

From tap-to-pay cards to crypto wallets, digital transactions are redefining how people store, spend, and manage money. Because of its convenience, more and more people are going cashless. For example, according to a 2022 survey by Pew Research, 41% of adults in the U.S. do not use cash in a typical week, up from 29% in 2018 and 21% in 2015. This is corroborated by data from Capital One Shopping, which estimates that in 2025, up to 51.6% of Americans use cashless transactions. Nonetheless, going cashless opens you to issues of privacy, unchecked spending, and accessibility. This article explores the…

When it comes to paying for college, common wisdom says to apply for as much financial aid as you possibly can. This includes scholarships and grants that come from institutions and government agencies, and private scholarships, too. Unfortunately, colleges and universities have policies that can rob students of aid they may have spent weeks or months pursuing on their own. They do this through something called “scholarship displacement,” which reduces aid awards based on outside scholarships a student receives. To understand scholarship displacement, education attorney Dr. Gregory J. Vincent of Vincent Strategies says to imagine a student from a low-income…

Last night, the Senate Parliamentarian ruled that several key aspects of the proposed “Big Beautiful Bill” violate the Byrd Rule. This means that they cannot be included in the budget reconciliation bill, as they would need 60 votes to pass the Senate. According to a press release from the Senate Budget Committee ranking member, the following aspects related to higher education would require 60 votes to pass, and therefore can’t be included in the current proposal: Changes to loan repayment plans for existing student loan borrowers, including migrating them into an amended version of Income-Based Repayment. Changes to PSLF eligibility…

Republican-led plans to make massive changes to federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs by repealing several existing options suddenly hit a major roadblock on Thursday after a key senate official determined that the proposal would violate a senate rule. As a result, GOP lawmakers may not be able to enact all of their proposed changes, at least not in their current form. The proposed student loan reforms are part of a much broader legislative effort by congressional Republicans to enact President Donald Trump’s policy priorities through the budget reconciliation process. GOP lawmakers hope to extend and expand massive tax…

Students get lots of advice on what majors are the smart ones to enter if you’d like high-paying work after college. The answers typically revolve around STEM, or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The chances of moving into the top economic quarter — or even higher — are good. However, sometimes things don’t work out as promised. Companies often over-hire in active years, assuming they can make more money. When things turn in the other direction, they cut jobs to preserve profits and, more often, keep markets happy, which results in buttressing share prices. The Good And Bad Degrees The…