Author: Sarah Brady, National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) Updated: July 10, 2026 Introduction and Main Facts For millions of Americans holding federal student loan debt, the landscape of higher education financing has felt like a moving target over the past several years. A flurry of policy shifts, court battles, administrative overhauls, and shifting eligibility…
Main Facts: The Evolution of Crypto Taxation As cryptocurrency firmly establishes itself in the mainstream financial ecosystem—with recent estimates indicating that roughly one in five U.S. adults now utilize or invest in digital assets—the intersection of blockchain technology and federal tax policy has reached a critical juncture. The explosive growth of the digital asset market,…
Main Facts Borrowers depending on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program face an increasingly hostile regulatory and administrative environment. Created by Congress in 2007 under federal statute, PSLF allows public servants—such as teachers, nurses, government workers, and nonprofit employees—to have their remaining federal student loan balances forgiven after completing 10 years of full-time employment…
Author: Barry Coleman, National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) Published: July 17, 2026 (Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in March 2022 and has been comprehensively updated to reflect the evolving student loan landscape in 2026.) Main Facts Millions of borrowers across the United States continue to wrestle with the complexities of student loan…
Main Facts: The Financial Realities of Modern Policing Law enforcement officers at local, state, tribal, and federal levels undertake daily risks and psychological burdens that most citizens will never fully understand. Beyond the physical and emotional toll of the badge, however, a quiet crisis weighs heavily on thousands of personnel: mounting student loan debt. While…
An inheritance is often described as a double-edged sword: while it represents a significant shift in one’s financial trajectory, it almost invariably arrives accompanied by the profound emotional weight of grief. Managing a windfall of this nature requires more than just financial acumen; it demands a measured approach that balances the logistical complexities of asset…
Disclaimer: The following information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or credit advice. Consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific circumstances. Financial distress is often compounded by the relentless persistence of debt collection agencies. When a debt remains unpaid for an extended period—typically 90 days or more—creditors often offload…
Author: Sarah Brady, National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) Updated: July 31, 2026 (Originally published December 2020) Main Facts Struggling with overwhelming debt is a stressful reality for millions of households. When monthly minimum payments outpace income, individuals often search for a lifeline, only to find themselves paralyzed by the sheer volume of choices. The…
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…
In the current economic climate, the burden of debt has become a defining characteristic of the American financial experience. As of the third quarter of 2023, the Federal Reserve Bank reported that total consumer debt in the United States had surged to an unprecedented $17.29 trillion. While data suggests a slight decline in the total…
