New FAFSA ‘soft launch’ has some issues, Education Department says

New FAFSA ‘soft launch’ has some issues, Education Department says

A new Free Application for Federal Student Aid soft launched over the holiday weekend with much anticipation after a long delay. However, for now, the 2024–25 FAFSA form is only available for short periods of time as the U.S. Department of Education works to “resolve minor issues,” according to a department spokesperson. This soft launch period … Read more

Why 2024 could be the year student loan borrowers get forgiveness

Why 2024 could be the year student loan borrowers get forgiveness

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks on the student debt relief plan as Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona (R) listens in the South Court Auditorium at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on October 17, 2022 in Washington, DC. Alex Wong | Getty Images How Plan A, Plan B student loan forgiveness compares Nearly 40 million Americans would have … Read more

Big Short’s Steve Eisman worries investors are too bullish in 2024

Big Short’s Steve Eisman worries investors are too bullish in 2024

Investor Steve Eisman of “The Big Short” fame is questioning the level of bullishness on Wall Street — even with the market’s tepid start to the year. From enthusiasm surrounding the “Magnificent Seven” technology stocks to expectations for multiple interest rate cuts this year, Eisman believes there’s little tolerance for things going wrong. “Long term, … Read more

4 factors affect how much Social Security retirees receive in 2024

4 factors affect how much Social Security retirees receive in 2024

Adamkaz | E+ | Getty Images If you’re a retiree who relies on Social Security benefits for income, you will see some changes in 2024. You will get a benefit boost to adjust for inflation. But just how much extra money you see will depend on the size of your Medicare Part B premiums and … Read more

How much is a round 50 cent coin worth? Aussie discovers super rare silver piece in change

How much is a round 50 cent coin worth? Aussie discovers super rare silver piece in change

A super rare 50 cent coin dating back almost 60 years has been spotted in loose change — leaving many scrambling to check their wallets. An Australian woman thought she was given the wrong change over the weekend — but upon a closer look, she realised it was a round-shaped 50 cent coin from 1966. … Read more

New FAFSA launches after a long delay, but with issues

New FAFSA launches after a long delay, but with issues

A simplified Free Application for Federal Student Aid is finally online after a significant delay. However, as part of a “soft launch,” the new FAFSA form has only been periodically available. It’s likely few, if any, of the millions of students applying to college for the 2024-25 academic year have been able to successfully submit an application, … Read more

Top money goals for Gen Z and millennials in 2024

Top money goals for Gen Z and millennials in 2024

The millennial and Gen Z generations are placing financial goals at the top of their lists of 2024 resolutions, a recent American Express survey finds.  The poll, which surveyed more than 1,800 people born between 1981 and 2012, found that 57% of respondents named personal finance goals as their top personal aim for next year, … Read more

Here are moves investors can make when the market is soaring, advisors say

Here are moves investors can make when the market is soaring, advisors say

Rear view of woman sitting on top of mountain against cloudy sky during sunrise. Simonkr | E+ | Getty Images It was a very good year for the stock market. The benchmark S&P 500 ended the year with a 24.2% gain, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose more than a 13% this year and and the Nasdaq … Read more

5 changes coming for retirement savers in 2024

5 changes coming for retirement savers in 2024

1. Student debt relief Many early career workers face a conundrum when it comes to tackling financial goals: pay down student debt or invest toward retirement? Starting next year, you may be able to do both at once. Secure 2.0 allows companies to “match” employees’ student loan payments with contributions to their workplace retirement accounts. … Read more

Student loan forgiveness, tech layoffs, big money stories from 2023

Student loan forgiveness, tech layoffs, big money stories from 2023

Student debt rose to $1.6 trillion Student loan borrowers spent the first half of the year hoping to see their balances reduced, if not erased, by the end of the summer. Many spent the second half of the year scrambling to figure out how they were going to resume making payments.  By the end of … Read more