Millions of borrowers with defaulted federal student loans may soon be facing significant credit reporting and collections consequences, as an extension on paused actions against defaulted borrowers is set to expire. That extension, which will end in early January, is the final period of relief before draconian collections efforts may resume. Borrowers in default on their student loans still have options to cure their defaulted status and return to good standing. Doing so may allow them to access affordable payment plans and potentially get on track for eventual student loan forgiveness. But remaining in default could have dire consequences including…

What’s your New Year’s resolution? We all make them, but unfortunately, they rarely stick. The second Friday in January is even known as “Quitter’s Day.” According to Drive Research, 23% of adults give up on their New Year’s goals by the end of the first week of January. If you’re reading this article, you resolve to declutter, get organized, and save money. Here are three ways to start your New Year’s resolution and keep it for the entire year. Digital Declutter Subscriptions, streaming services, and recurring payments can sneak up on you if not monitored carefully. Every January, we do…

As of the date of this writing, Dec. 29, the folks at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (known as FinCEN) are enjoined from enforcing the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements under the provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) passed by Congress in 2021. And, yes, you know you are dealing with the government when everything has an acronym. The BOI reporting mandate applies to the beneficial owners and controlling persons of certain business entities. These entities include nearly all business entities such as corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships and the like. In the vast majority of situations,…

Back in October 2024, Oxford Economics made a call for a “window of opportunity” for commercial real estate (CRE) investment. The take was that over the next 12 to 18 months — essentially through 2025, would “offer the best entry point for direct real estate investment this cycle.” The firm saw Europe and the industrial CRE segment as offering the best opportunities. From a global perspective, that might be true. In the U.S., however, data and analysis suggest two good places to look: the fast food (often called quick-serve restaurants or QSR) and convenience store (C-store) parts of retail. What…

According to a recent study conducted by Talker Research for Traditional Medicinals, the average person feels their head “spinning” from stress 156 times per year, or about three times per week, and experiences brain fog with roughly the same frequency. The survey, which polled about 2,000 adults, also discovered that 41% of respondents were currently experiencing their peak stress levels for the year, and about a quarter (26%) fear their stress might increase by year’s end. Despite the inner turmoil, a surprising 45% of respondents have never used stress as the sole reason for taking a mental health day or…

As families across America grapple with rising college costs, many parents and students find themselves asking a crucial question: Is higher education truly worth the investment? While the answer isn’t simple, recent comprehensive research reveals encouraging insights that go far beyond just salary expectations. The Financial Foundation: Understanding the Numbers The May 2024 comprehensive analysis of 53,000 degree programs by the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP) reveals that bachelor’s degree holders earn a median $32,112 more annually than high school graduates. This translates to approximately $625,000 in additional lifetime earnings (using a conservative 3% discount rate and accounting…

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) — the same consumer-oriented protective government agency that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy want to eliminate, as Business Insider and others have reported — came out with its annual report on the mortgage market and trends. The findings likely will not surprise anyone who tried to buy a house last year or this. The number of mortgage applications dropped by 4.3 million, or 30.3% between 2022 and 2023. Originations — the original mortgage loans — fell by 2.7 million, or 32.2%. And 2023 origination volume was only 37.9% of the 2021 peak. Two-thirds of…

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) experienced a dynamic year marked by progress, challenges, and resolution of lingering issues. Under the leadership of Director Collette Peters, the BOP appears poised to become a leaner more efficient organization, focused on tackling persistent problems like understaffing and infrastructure modernization. With an annual budget of $8.3 billion – the largest allocation within the Department of Justice – the BOP faces mounting scrutiny over its expenditures. Despite housing over 50,000 fewer prisoners than its 2023 peak of 213,000, the budget has continued to grow. This increase reflects the rising costs of overtime to offset…

Starting the year with clear goals sets the stage for a year of achievement and personal growth. But where do you start? This article will show you the art and science of setting SMART goals so you can start 2025 off right. Setting the Stage For SMART Goals Before you set goals, you need to know your core values. Aligning your goals with what matters most to you is key. This alignment means your goals are meaningful and resonate with your values, so you’ll be more committed and sustain your momentum. Using tools like personality tests can be a great…

If you own a home — whether a house, a condo, or a trailer — you’ve probably noticed an increase in the cost of property insurance. Well, “increase” is an understatement. Since January 2023, premiums on homeowner’s insurance have taken off as the Bureau of Labor Statistics graph below shows. The hike isn’t a hockey stick exactly, but it’s a sudden jump that you wouldn’t want to climb if it were a hill and you hadn’t been active. Between January 2023 and November 2024, the increase has been almost 18% and that’s likely to continue its rise. The problem is…