Diversification is one of the most important principles in investing. It reduces risk and increases the likelihood of more stable, long-term returns. While no strategy can eliminate risk entirely, diversification helps protect your portfolio from being overly affected by the poor performance of any single investment. This article outlines core diversification strategies every investor should understand and apply. Together, these approaches form a comprehensive framework for building a more resilient and adaptable portfolio. Diversification Across Asset Classes Investing across asset classes is a fundamental principle that helps reduce portfolio risk and smooth returns over time. Different asset classes—such as equities,…

Student loan payments may dramatically increase next month for millions of people, after the Trump administration suggested in a legal filing on Friday that the Department of Education will change how it treats married borrowers in income-driven repayment plans. The declaration was submitted as a new lawsuit against the Trump administration for blocking access to income-driven repayment plans enters its next phase. Income-driven repayment programs are congressionally-mandated repayment options that offer borrowers affordable student loan payments tied to their income and family size, with eventual student loan forgiveness after 20 or 25 years. The American Federation of Teachers, a national…

Tax Day isn’t anyone’s favorite holiday—but if there’s one bright side to filing, it’s the growing list of freebies and food deals meant to take the sting out of April 15. Restaurants nationwide are getting in on the action, from $0.01 cheeseburgers to BOGO cookie cake slices and stress-busting carbs. Whether you’re treating yourself after hitting submit or still waiting for that refund, here’s where to score a bite without spending a fortune. National & Regional Food Deals for Tax Day 2025 Burger King: Royal Perks members can get a cheeseburger for just $0.01 with any $1+ purchase via the…

House Passing GOP Budget Plan Is Likely Horrendous News For Student Loan Borrowers The U.S. House of Representatives approved a Republican budget framework that fulfills a key priority of President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda. The 216-214 vote advances a budget plan that paves the way for extending Trump-era tax cuts and enacting deep spending reductions. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) pledged at least $1.5 trillion in federal spending cuts over the next decade​ to secure support from conservative holdouts, according to a Forbes article. What could those massive cuts mean for Americans with…

It’s been a couple of days since the Trump administration performed an about-face on its reciprocal tariff plans. The announcement sent the stock market into a giggling dance of delight. Major indices that had fallen into a major pothole climbed back up. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained nearly 2,963 points; the S&P 500, almost 492; the Nasdaq, more than 1,800. Some have argued that this was masterful manipulation and negotiation by Trump two days after he had said that the reciprocal tariffs were absolutely going into place and wouldn’t be paused, as Politifact documented. Tariff Impacts Now The good…

Updated, April 10, 2025: This post has been adjusted to correct Jim Justice’s party affiliation. He switched from Democrat to Republican in 2017. Trump Late Night Post After nearly two months with no director, President Donald Trump announced that William “Billy” Marshall III would become the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Trump took to Truth Social to announce: “I am pleased to announce that William “Billy” Marshall III, of the Great State of West Virginia, a State I love and won SIX times, as the next Director of the Bureau of Prisons. Billy has a distinguished Law…

As President Donald Trump’s trade war heats up, economists are warning that the chances of the United States entering a recession are increasing. And if a recession happens while the federal student loan system remains mired in turmoil and relief options are eliminated, it could have major implications for borrowers. During economic downturns and periods of financial hardship, federal student loan borrowers traditionally have had a broad array of options to postpone or reduce their monthly payments. This would allow them to keep their student loans in good standing and continue progressing toward eventual payoff or student loan forgiveness. These…

Bureau of Prisons Announcement The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) issued a memorandum last week limiting the amount of halfway house placement for federal inmates from 12 months to 2 months. The result was that many prisoners who had dates to go to a halfway house or home confinement, both monitored by halfway house staff, had their dates moved. Now, after uproar from prisoners, advocates and civil rights attorneys, the BOP has rescinded that limitation. In its initial announcement the BOP cited budget constraints for the limitation and stated that “…. all individuals releasing to the community under Second Chance…

Here’s Who May Be Eligible For The IRS $1,400 Stimulus Check Payment Time is almost up to claim a missing $1,400 stimulus check from 2021. Millions of Americans received this third-round Economic Impact Payment under the American Rescue Plan, but some eligible people never received their money. The IRS estimates about 1.1 million taxpayers have unclaimed 2021 refunds – including missed stimulus checks – worth around $1 billion. As I noted in a previous Forbes post, April 15, 2025, is the final deadline to file a 2021 tax return and get any unpaid pandemic relief before it’s forfeited to the…

Student Loan Wage Garnishment Is Looming The federal government is ramping up its collections engine and could soon go after millions of Americans. One area of concern for the close to 10 million student loan borrowers who are delinquent on their loans is student loan wage garnishment, which could soon be making a comeback; however, there are others, including a recent policy change to Social Security overpayments that could lead to 100% withholding. Regardless of the reason, it’s crucial for individuals to understand their options when receiving a collections notice and to act quickly. After a three-year pandemic relief pause…