$29,100 – Average cumulative debt for 2020–21 bachelor’s degree recipients who graduated with debt from public and private nonprofit four-year institutions; 54% of students graduated with debt. This was an improvement over the 2015–16 school year, when 60% of students graduated with an average debt of $32,100. Source: College Board, 2022 While there is widespread
There is no magic formula to determine how much you or your child should borrow for college. But how much is too much? Starting Salary Guideline One guideline is for students to borrow no more than their expected first-year starting salary after college, which, in turn, depends on their specific major and/or job prospects. But
College students and parents deserve all the help they can get when paying for college or repaying student loans. If you’re in this situation, here are three federal tax benefits that might help put a few more dollars back in your pocket. American Opportunity Credit The American Opportunity tax credit is worth up to $2,500
12% – Percentage increase in prices for food at home (primarily groceries) for the 12-month period ending November 2022. By comparison, prices for food away from home increased 8.5% and general inflation ran at 7.1%. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022 Have you noticed that packages are smaller at the grocery store? If so,
With stock and bond markets both faltering over the past year, it’s easy to see why more near-retirees have a newfound appreciation for fixed annuities — insurance contracts that guarantee a specified rate of return. A fixed annuity maintains its value regardless of market conditions, and yields on these products have risen in response to
As young adults embark on their first real job, get married, or start a family, retirement might be the last thing on their minds. Even so, they might want to make it a financial priority. In preparing for retirement, the best time to start investing is now — for two key reasons: compounding and tax
With the prices for gas, oil, and electricity continuing to soar across the country, consumers are facing another winter of high heating bills. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association, the average cost of home heating is estimated to increase by 17.2% this season.1 Here are some tips to help you keep your heating
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2023-2024 school year opened on October 1, 2022. Here are some things you should know. Why file it? The FAFSA is a prerequisite for federal student loans, grants, and work-study. In addition, colleges typically require the FAFSA before distributing their own need-based aid and, in
21 – This is the average number of investment funds offered in 401(k) and profit-sharing plans in 2020 Source: Plan Sponsor Council of America, 2021 Created in 1996, National 401(k) Day has historically been celebrated on the Friday following Labor Day to shine a spotlight on this important employee benefit. Since the late 1990s, plans
If you earn money through an app or online digital platform, you may be affected by a tax reporting change that took effect on January 1, 2022. A provision of the 2021 American Rescue Plan requires third-party payment processors to report business transactions totaling over $600 per year by issuing a Form 1099-K to the
