How To Improve Your Credit Score

Good news for the country: The average credit score is at a record high of 704. That’s according to the Fair, Isaac Corporation, the company that produces the most commonly used credit scoring product in the U.S. today, the FICO Score. If you’ve had credit issues in the past, or if you are simply new […]

Consolidation Loan Separation Act May Provide Relief to Victims of Domestic Violence and Abuse

Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act Aims to Help Divorced Joint Borrowers Get Back on Their Feet. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Shannon DeBlieck and her then-husband used a now-defunct federal program to consolidate their separate loan amounts together into a single payment. She owed $4,000, and he owed $19,000. The balance […]

Pros and Cons of Income Sharing Agreements (ISAs)

No matter how you slice it, college is expensive. The average debt load per student borrower reached $37,000 in 2017 and most proposals floating around Washington involve managing that debt, not making college cheaper. College costs keep climbing and will probably continue on that track for the foreseeable future. However, student loans aren’t the only […]

LGBT Graduates and Student Loan Debt

Now that Pride Month is in full swing, we turn our attention to a topic that doesn’t get talked about very much: LGBT people and student loan debt.  LGBT people face some unique challenges in dealing with student loan debt due to the fact that, as young students, they were statistically more likely to be […]

You Could Soon Use a Section 529 Plan To Pay Off Student Loans. Here’s Why That Might Be a Bad Idea.

You may soon be allowed to use Section 529 plans to pay up to $10,000 in student loan debt. Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed a bill called the SECURE Act. That is, “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement.” Among other things, this bill expands Section 529 plans to include […]

The #1 Benefit Employees Want in 2019?

The #1 benefit American employees want to see in their benefits package? Assistance with student loan debt. While a good salary, paid vacation, and health insurance all remain perennial draws, student debt relief is no doubt the top employee benefit for 2019. Understanding the latest benefit trend Desire for assistance with student loans from employers […]

7 Awesome Personal Finance Podcasts

If you want to learn more about personal finance, check out these 7 awesome podcasts! Whether you’re doing the dishes, working out, or commuting, podcasts are a fun, easy way to learn more about money. The next time you want to be informed, inspired, and entertained, listen to one of these great personal finance podcasts: […]

5 Inspiring TED Talks to Watch If You Have Student Debt

TED Talks are a highly informative, entertaining way to gain practical advice on dealing with your student debt and personal finances. If you’re ready for a boost of curated inspiration, check out our list of curated TED Talks for: inspiring stories expert information humor real talk about personal finances and debt! And now, onto the […]

Student Loan Repayment Strategies for Health Care Professionals

Managing student loan forgiveness programs is a major element of financial planning for health care professionals. Physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants, especially, tend to have big student loan balances. The median student loan balance for recent medical school graduates has now reached $200,000, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges. Nurse practitioner […]

The Best Debt Management Apps of 2019

Debt is a bummer. For college graduates, student loan debt is just another log on the fire that is your finances. Because you aren’t just paying back your student loans, are you?  No, you’ve got rent each month, a car loan to pay, and maybe even some credit card balances with absurd interest rates. Managing […]

Understanding the Progressive Position on the Student Loan Debt Crisis

For years now, the progressive political movement has been gaining its foothold on the main stage of modern American politics, and finally, we are starting to see some real strides being made towards addressing the student loan debt crisis in a manner that benefits the people of this country and not the banks and private […]

Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s Student Loan Forgiveness Proposal

The student loan crisis is taking center stage in the 2020 presidential election campaign.  The numbers are attention-grabbing: student loan debt is now the second biggest form of outstanding consumer debt. With more than $1.5 billion in student loans debt outstanding, education debt eclipsed credit card debt almost a decade ago. Only mortgage debt is […]