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…
WASHINGTON — For decades, the foundational pitch for trade tariffs has carried a simple, politically potent promise: that foreign nations and overseas corporations would foot the bill for accessing the lucrative American consumer market, thereby generating public revenue while shielding domestic industries from unfair competition. However, a closer look at the mechanics of modern international…
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In an era of rising litigation costs, record-high settlement awards, and increasingly litigious environments, everyday homeowners and drivers are sitting on a financial powder keg. Most people operate under the comforting assumption that maxing out the standard liability limits on their auto and homeowners insurance policies provides a foolproof safety net. Unfortunately, that assumption can…
Negotiations between sovereign governments have long relied on economic leverage to alter the behavior of counterparties or force strategic compromises. While traditional trade tools—such as economic sanctions, quantitative quotas, and punitive tariffs—are widely recognized components of the geoeconomic toolkit, domestic tax policy has historically remained insulated from the realm of foreign policy coercion. That paradigm…
By: PYMNTS Published: October 2, 2026 Main Facts In a high-profile industry move that underscores the deepening intersection of artificial intelligence and geopolitical defense, OpenAI has hired Thomas Lind, the former top artificial intelligence policy official at the White House’s Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD). According to reports confirmed by the head of…
Divorce is rarely a simple uncoupling; it is an intricate dismantling of a shared economic life. When households split, assets are liquidated, properties are divided, and liabilities are apportioned. However, when complex educational debt—specifically federal Parent PLUS Loans—enters the equation, the legal and financial landscape grows exponentially more complicated. As major federal policy shifts take…
Main Facts: The Hidden Vulnerability in Workplace Benefits For millions of American workers, glancing at annual employee benefits paperwork offers a comforting reassurance: Life insurance—check. With many employers offering basic coverage as part of a standard benefits package, employees frequently assume they are adequately protected against life’s worst-case scenarios. However, a closer look at the…
According to data compiled in LIMRA’s Insurance Barometer Study, a slim majority—roughly 52% of Americans—maintain some form of life insurance coverage. For this group, there is a distinct peace of mind in knowing that their passing will not impose an immediate, crushing financial burden on their surviving family members. They have secured a safety net…
