Millennials and Gen Xers: How Much Should You Have Saved for Retirement by Now?

Retirement seems like it’s a long way off. But it will be around the corner before you know it. In fact, It could even come sooner than you expect: A significant number of Americans are forced to retire ahead of schedule, due to a variety of factors.  But let’s assume you’ll retire on schedule in […]

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Car With Student Loan Debt

There’s no doubt about it – if you’ve graduated with significant student loan debt, that can absolutely complicate your ability to qualify for a car loan. But unless you live in a big city with a good public transportation system, you need a car to get to job interviews and back and forth to work. […]

Dreams vs. Student Loan Debt

Most people attend college and university for a similar reason. Potential students want to prepare for a career that will improve their future and positively impact the world. However, new evidence shows that attending college – and the subsequent student loan debt that comes with – is making graduates ditch their dreams. Drowning in debt […]

The Kamala Harris Student Loan Forgiveness for Entrepreneurs Plan

California Senator and Democratic Party presidential candidate Kamala Harris just proposed offering up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness to Pell Grant recipients. Yesterday I announced that, as president, I’ll establish a student loan debt forgiveness program for Pell Grant recipients who start a business that operates for three years in disadvantaged communities. https://t.co/ldwuC9RiIE — […]

Are you making this common savings mistake?

Saving for the future is hard. But, saving for the future can feel downright impossible when you have student loan debt. Currently, 3/4 of Americans of all ages have at least one regret about how they’ve managed their finances, according to a recent report from Bankrate. However, every generation feels remorse about specific financial troubles. […]

Want to Attract Talent? Offer a Student Loan Repayment Benefit

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — More than one-half of working Americans said employer-provided student loan repayment benefits would play a role in how they evaluate job opportunities, according to new research from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). ” As the research shows, education assistance helps employers attract talented employees and build diverse teams to compete globally.”  –Emily […]

The Perils of Navigating Federal Debt Forgiveness Programs on Your Own

On the surface, student debt relief programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness look like win-win projects. With Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), students who accept in-demand jobs in public service fields can have their federal student loans forgiven after 10 years of on-time student loan payments. If you meet these qualifications, your loans will be […]

Republican Senator: Make Colleges Pay Half of Graduates’ Defaults

If a college or university alumni defaults on student loans, the college should pay at least half of the amount in default. That’s the premise of the latest student loan bill on the Senate floor, the Skin In The Game Act, courtesy of Senator Josh Hawley (R – Missouri). The bill would also prevent educational […]

Percentage of Employers Offering Student Loan Repayment Benefit Doubles

The percentage of U.S. employers who provide student loan repayment assistance to employees has doubled. Employers are now twice as likely to offer a student loan repayment benefit as they were just a year or two ago, according to a survey from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). While SHRM data records the number […]

Understanding the Risks of Refinancing Your Student Loans

When you have student loans, you have a lot to worry about. Tracking your spending and keeping payments on schedule can be difficult enough, especially if you need a mountain of documentation for a federal relief program like PSLF. Relief options like consolidation, refinancing, and income-driven repayment are a big boost for borrowers, but doing […]

Student Loan Debt Deferment and Forbearance: FAQ Guide

Student loan debt deferment and forbearance are two options borrowers have to temporarily delay their loan payments. Under specialized circumstances, student loan debt deferment or student loan debt forbearance allows borrowers to: Temporarily stop making federal student loan payments Temporarily reduce the amount of your federal student loan payments Private lenders have different rules and […]

Maryland SmartBuy Program Will Pay Off Up to $40,000 in Student Loans If You Buy a House There.

The Maryland SmartBuy Program Looking to buy a home with student loan debt? Consider moving to Maryland. A government initiative there will pay off and eventually forgive up to $40,000 in student loan debt. The catch: You have to buy a home in Maryland. And you have to live in it for at least five […]