More than five million student loan borrowers are in the Department of Education’s crosshairs after the Trump administration announced new collections efforts targeting those in default on their federal student loans earlier this week. These borrowers may soon be subject to draconian collections actions by the government including wage garnishment and the offset of Social Security payments and other federal income streams. Millions of additional borrowers may also be targeted as they begin to fall further behind on their monthly payments. “American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” said U.S. Secretary…

If you haven’t been able to keep up with the twists and turns of financial markets in the last couple of weeks, since Donald Trump announced additional tariffs, then said he’d hold off on the highest tariff levels on virtually all countries, then announced even higher tariffs on China, it’s not you. And it’s not a cold and calculated set of financial calculations and strategies. What you’re seeing is a global manifestation of humanity’s psychological struggle. It’s the battle between emotions of fear and trust. The economic idea that people are purely rational, self-serving beings has been undermined by broad…

We soon will learn what Congress and the Trump Administration have in store for Medicaid. But while the state/federal program has become a high-profile target, it is widely misunderstood. And so are the consequences of major Medicaid changes for older adults, people with disabilities, and their families. Yes, Medicaid provides medical insurance for low-income working age people and their children. But Medicaid spends more than half its budget on medical and long-term care for frail, low-income older adults and younger people with disabilities. And about one-quarter of all Medicaid benefits, more than $200 billion, goes to long-term care for about…

On April 21, Nadine Menendez, the wife of former Senator Bob Menendez, was convicted of 15 counts of bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice following a three-week trial. There is an old saying among trial lawyers that there are three trials: the one for which you prepare, the one you put on and the one that you would have put on had you known at the beginning of the trial what you learned by the end. In the case of Nadine Menendez, the trial was essentially a rehashing of her husband’s trial. Bob Menendez was convicted in July 2024 of…

On April 21st, Nadine Menendez, the wife of former senator Bob Menendez, was convicted of 15 counts of bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice following a three week trial. There is an old saying among trial lawyers that there are three trials, the one for which you prepare, the one you put on and the one that you would have put on had you known at the beginning of the trial what you learned by the end. In the case of Nadine Menendez, the trial was essentially a rehashing of her husband’s trial. Bob Menendez was convicted in July 2024…

Republicans Reintroduce Bill To Abolish Education Department In late March 2025, Republican lawmakers reignited their long-standing campaign to abolish the Education Department. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Lee (R-UT), and newly elected Bernie Moreno (R-OH) introduced a one-line bill that would eliminate the Education Department, setting December 31, 2026, as the agency’s final day of operation​. The straightforward proposal reads: “The Department of Education shall terminate on December 31, 2026.” It aims to shut down the Education Department and hand education control back to states and local communities​. “It’s time to empower families and local leaders to make the best…

Fintech stepping in where traditional banks have stepped out In early 2023, the CEO of a thriving CBD company in Colorado opened their laptop to a gut punch: their bank had shut down the company’s account. No warning. No appeals. Just a dead end—and a scramble to meet payroll, pay vendors, and stay afloat. This isn’t some fringe example. Across the U.S., thousands of legal businesses wear the “high-risk” label and are quietly excluded from basic financial services—not because of any wrongdoing, but simply the industries they operate in: cannabis, firearms, crypto, adult content. And few face steeper barriers than…

You likely have seen or participated in these kinds of personal finance decisions: buying a nice watch, talking smooth, and carrying big dreams—while actually being financially far from stability. So, how do you know when you’re in this situation? Let’s break it down—with receipts. 1) You Live On Lifestyle Credit: You pick up dinner at a fancy restaurant, but are dodging your student loan payments. That’s not wealth—it’s debt cosplay. In fact, nearly 60% of U.S. credit cardholders live paycheck to paycheck, and half carry revolving credit card debt from month to month, according to a 2024 Bankrate report. Ask…

Education Department To Resume 15% Wage Garnishment For Student Loan Borrowers In Default Federal student loan borrowers who have defaulted on their loans face harsh consequences. The U.S. Department of Education announced that it will resume involuntary debt collection on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, 2025. This means the government will restart the Treasury Offset Program, allowing it to seize tax refunds and reduce Social Security benefits for those who owe defaulted student debt. Perhaps most alarmingly for workers, wage garnishment will also kick back in later this summer after required warning notices are sent. In short, after…

The New York Fed’s Survey of Consumer Expectations found that the percentage of Americans who plan to work past 62 fell from 56% to 46% from 2014 to 2024. The average expected likelihood of working beyond age 67 was only 34.2% as of August 2024. With the number of early retirees increasing, it is even more critical for people to make productive decisions and avoid pitfalls. 6 Early Retirement Mistakes Some retirees are well-prepared, having saved and invested with enough discipline to retire on their terms. For others, early retirement is not a choice but the result of layoffs, health…