Despite the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program officially ending in July 2010, its legacy continues to cast a long shadow over the American higher education landscape. As of the third quarter of 2026, approximately 6.42 million borrowers still carry a collective $157 billion in FFEL student loan debt. For millions of households, these older…
Navigating a divorce is universally recognized as one of life’s most emotionally and psychologically taxing events. When significant financial liabilities are thrown into the mix—particularly federal education debt—the stress can quickly become overwhelming. For parents who utilized federal Parent PLUS Loans to help fund their children’s undergraduate education, a marital split introduces complex legal and…
The landscape of airline loyalty programs is shifting dramatically. Following its high-profile Investor Day presentation, Atmos Rewards—the joint loyalty ecosystem uniting Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines—has announced a sweeping series of structural updates set to take effect throughout 2027 and 2028. Designed to modernize the program and cater to a rapidly evolving demographic of travelers,…
August 19, 2026 — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the landscape of American higher education finance, recent congressional action has fundamentally altered the terms of existing income-driven repayment (IDR) plans. For millions of student loan borrowers who structured their financial futures around the stability of these programs, the rug has effectively been…
Introduction and Main Facts Financing higher education is one of the most substantial financial hurdles a family can face. While the primary burden traditionally falls on students via federal student loans, millions of parents step in to bridge the funding gap. For many, this support comes through the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Direct Parent…
Introduction and Main Facts Financing higher education has traditionally been viewed as a student-centric responsibility, primarily managed through federal student loans. However, millions of families rely on parental assistance to bridge the widening gap between the rising cost of attendance and available financial aid. Through the federal Parent PLUS Loan program administered by the U.S….
August 19, 2026 — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the landscape of American higher education finance, recent legislative adjustments to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans have effectively retroactively altered the financial obligations of millions of student loan borrowers. For many, the promise of a manageable debt-to-income path has been replaced by the reality…
Main Facts Financing higher education has traditionally been viewed as a student-centric responsibility, primarily managed through federal student loan programs. However, a significant portion of the financial burden is routinely shouldered by parents via Direct Parent PLUS Loans. Administered by the U.S. Department of Education, these federal loans allow biological parents, adoptive parents, and, in…
For millions of Americans, the landscape of higher education financing is about to undergo its most significant transformation in a generation. On July 1, 2026, a series of legislative and regulatory shifts—born from the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act and subsequent executive directives—will fundamentally alter the borrower experience. From the phase-out of the SAVE plan…
The American student loan landscape is bracing for its most significant transformation in a generation. As of July 1, 2026, a series of legislative mandates, executive orders, and judicial settlements will converge to fundamentally alter how millions of Americans repay their federal debt. These changes, rooted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and recent…
