Personal Finance

On Tuesday, the Senate passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” after multiple days of debates and minor changes. The sweeping legislation will impact nearly all facets of American life, but will specifically have major changes to higher education. The student loan provisions have some of the most significant higher education reforms we’ve seen in decades, and will impact both current borrowers and future borrowers. On the borrower side, the bill eliminates the Grad PLUS loan program, and introduces new caps on Direct Graduate Loans and Parent PLUS Loans. For future Parent PLUS loans, both repayment plan options and loan forgiveness…

Looking for ways to get more tax-free income in retirement? You should check out the mega backdoor Roth tax-planning strategy. That is assuming you have already maxed out your Roth IRA and 401(k). Making the maximum mega backdoor Roth contribution in 2025 could help triple your contributions in 2025 versus just contributing to a regular Roth 401(k). The mega backdoor Roth allows for nearly 10 times the contribution limits of a regular Roth, depending on your age. Maximizing your tax-free income in retirement is a great way to avoid running out of money your turn you life savings into a…

President Donald Trump is expected to issue an executive order that may substantially limit student loan forgiveness for public servants. Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF, is a popular federal student loan forgiveness program that can eliminate a borrower’s debt after 10 years of working for qualifying nonprofit or government organizations. More than a million borrowers have qualified for relief under the program, largely as a result of improvements made during the Biden administration. But on Friday, Trump announced that he will be signing an executive order to limit eligibility for the PSLF program, based on unspecified concerns about the…

In October 2024 TD Bank pled guilty to both civil and criminal charges including conspiring to violate the Bank Secrecy Act related to money laundering. As a condition of the settlement, TD Bank paid a $1.8 billion criminal penalty which, when added to the civil fines, brought the total to $3 billion to settle the charges. Among the instances of money laundering done through TD Bank as indicated in the settlement agreement was the laundering of $474 million in cash from fentanyl sales in the United States by Chinese criminal syndicates. Additionally, as a further condition of the settlement, TD…

In a move that could significantly impact the landscape of student loan forgiveness, President Trump is poised to sign an executive order later today directing the Education Department to modify the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, the New York Times reported. The PSLF program, established under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, forgives a portion of federal student loan debt for individuals employed in public sector roles, including those at nonprofit organizations. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump has expressed concerns that certain qualifying nonprofit organizations may “engage in illegal, or what we would consider to be…

Student Loan Delinquency Rate Doubles As Payments Resume After the three-year pandemic pause and resumption of federal student loan repayments, delinquency rates have doubled in just a few months, according to Education Department data obtained by The Washington Post. Millions of borrowers are struggling to keep up with their monthly bills now that payments are required again. Roughly 4 million federal student loan borrowers are already behind on payments, a sharp spike in distress that has alarmed policymakers and advocates. The Post reports that the proportion of borrowers missing payments is roughly twice the pre-restart level, illustrating the rocky transition…

Apart from being an engaging social media network for sharing virtual mood boards of your ideas, interests, and hobbies, Pinterest is also an excellent platform for earning money, even as a beginner. Through this visual search engine, you can promote your online store, become an affiliate, and drive traffic to your blogs. These are all proven ways to generate revenue for your online business. How To Make Money On Pinterest For Beginners This article covers various ways to monetize your Pinterest account. 1. Start A Blog And Make Pins For Your Blog Posts Driving traffic is one of the most…

The Trump administration has been rapidly dismantling protections for student loan borrowers, leaving millions of Americans with diminishing options as turmoil continues to rock federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs. In just six weeks, administration officials have effectively neutralized a key federal financial watchdog agency, cut staffing at key divisions within the U.S. Department of Education, and blocked several critical federal student loan repayment programs. More changes might be in store in the coming months. Here’s what borrowers need to know. Federal Watchdog Agency Overseeing Student Loan Servicing And Collections Is Gutted One of the Trump administration’s first actions…

While there has been much conversation on not buying from companies with poor diversity, little has been said about investing in gender equality. Specifically companies that have strong gender equality policies. As we celebrate Women’s History Month in 2025, it’s essential to address the unique challenges women face in preparing for retirement. Despite significant strides in gender equality, women often encounter financial hurdles that can impact their retirement savings. This article offers practical strategies to help women, especially those mindful of social values and sustainability, secure a comfortable and values-aligned retirement. Why Investing in Gender Equality Could Mean Higher Returns…

DOGE Check Timing Revealed? The concept of a DOGE check, which proposes distributing 20% of government savings directly to taxpayers, has recently gained notable endorsements from President Trump and Elon Musk. While the proposal has been met with some skepticism, including from key members of the Republican Party, James Fishback, the 28-year-old hedge fund manager behind the concept, has continued lobbying for its adoption. In recent days, Fishback revealed that he met with Musk and commenced discussions with lawmakers. In an interview with the NY Post, he also asserted that there would be a proposed bill relating to a DOGE…

Lifestyle inflation occurs when your expenses increase as you earn more income. It can start subtly—dining at pricier restaurants, upgrading gadgets more frequently, or moving into a larger home. While these improvements can enhance comfort, unchecked spending can quickly outpace earnings, making it difficult to build or maintain wealth. Over time, this pattern can prevent financial freedom, leaving even high earners struggling to make meaningful financial progress. For example, according to a report from the Bank of America Institute, about 20% of households earning over $150,000 still live paycheck to paycheck, often due to high living costs and lifestyle choices.…