Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Opinion”
Each year, borrowers on income-driven student loan repayment plans are required to certify their income. In most cases, borrowers authorize the Department of Education to access their most recent tax return. This information is used to calculate monthly payments for the next year. While the income certification process is relatively …
Both federal student loan consolidation and private student loan refinancing have significant advantages. These two processes can easily save borrowers thousands of dollars when done correctly. However, both federal consolidation and private refinance come with significant risks. The potential dangers are part of the reason that I hate to see …
As part of the financial relief during the Coronavirus epidemic, interest rates on most federal student loans have been lowered to 0%. This interest rate freeze is set to expire on September 30, 2020. Several readers have asked about the possibility of the 0% interest rate being extended beyond the …
Income Share Agreements (ISAs) have increasingly been touted as a potential solution to the student debt crisis. In theory, it sounds like a good idea. Rather than paying huge sums of money towards a dreaded student loan, students who used ISAs are only required to pay what they can afford. …
Throughout the 2020 Democratic primary process, Mayor Pete Buttigieg has positioned himself as the moderate of the field. The Buttigieg plan for student loans is no exception. Unlike candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who are promising massive student loan forgiveness, Buttigieg’s approach is to make life with student debt …
As we approach the 2020 election, it seems as though Donald Trump’s re-election chances are fading with each news cycle. Mass protests have broken out across the country, and the government response to Coronavirus has disappointed many. If Trump is going to win another election, he will have to take …
One of the best tools for borrowers in repayment is the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). The NSLDS is so useful because it provides borrowers comprehensive records of their federal student loans, including amounts borrowed, servicer names, and balances. Tracking down this same information for private loans is considerably …
Editors Note: This article was originally published June 25, 2019. It has since been updated to include details on candidate proposals. The hot political debate right now is whether or not student loan forgiveness for all borrowers is a good idea. Presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders both have released …
Yes. I’m surprised at how often this question comes up. Normally it is in the context of “I owe X dollars, and I have X dollars sitting in the bank, should I use it all to pay off my student loans?” The answer to this question is almost always just …
