Employer Open Enrollment: Make Benefit Choices That Work for You
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average cost of health coverage for a family of four was $25,572 in 2024. While employers contributed the lion’s share, $6,296 of that amount was paid by employees. Employees have largely been spared from painful premium hikes over the last few years, but 2026 is likely to be […]
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Why Did the Federal Government Shut Down? And What Happens Now?
The federal government officially shut down many of its operations at 12:01 a.m. on October 1, 2025.1 This is the 15th government shutdown since 1980. Most were short, lasting one to three days. The longest lasted 34 full days, from December 2018 to January 2019.2 It’s impossible to predict how long the current shutdown might […]
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The Fed Lowers Rates in an Economic Balancing Act
On September 17, 2025, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered the target range for the benchmark federal funds rate by one-quarter percentage point — the first rate cut in nine months. This brought the range to 4.0%–4.25% and resumed the process of lowering it from a high of 5.25%–5.5%, where it stood […]
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Alternative Investments May Be Coming to 401(k) Plans
On August 7, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of Labor (DOL) to investigate how alternative investments, including private assets and cryptocurrency, might become more easily accessible to investors in work-based retirement plans. Celebrated by some and criticized by others, the order paves the way for retirement savers — and at […]
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The Cost of Moving Out of Your Parents’ House
Rent devours paychecks, and transportation and student debt compound costs Moving out can be a milestone of independence, but it comes at a steep cost. From rent and student loans to car payments and groceries, the numbers show how quickly a paycheck disappears. The single biggest cost is rent, which averages $2,049 per month — […]
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Young Grads Bear the Brunt of Tightening Labor Market
College graduates looking to join the workforce this year encountered the most discouraging labor market in recent memory. The class of 2025 saw the number of job postings on Handshake (a career platform used to recruit college graduates) decline 15% from the previous year. The number of applications per job increased by 30%.1 The Federal […]
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New Senior Deduction Explained
Beginning in 2025, seniors can take advantage of a new $6,000 tax deduction that may help them cover the rising costs of housing, health care, and daily living by potentially allowing more of their income to remain untaxed. The deduction, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) enacted in July 2025, will be […]
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Key Higher Education Changes in the New Tax Bill
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law in July 2025, includes multiple provisions that affect higher education. Key changes include new borrowing limits for students and parents under federal loan programs, streamlined student loan repayment plans, stricter rules on the ability of borrowers to pause student loan repayment, the promotion of workforce […]
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Mining Maelstrom: Why Rare Earths Are Making Headlines
Over the past several years, news reports have grown more intense about the precarious global supply of rare earth minerals. Yet outside scientific and national security arenas, many people may not fully understand the importance of rare earths. What are these mysterious materials and why are they receiving so much attention? Essential elements of everyday […]
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Understanding the New Trump Accounts
With the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, Congress introduced a new class of tax-advantaged savings vehicles for minors known as Trump accounts. Here’s a breakdown of the key features. What are they? Trump accounts are custodial savings and investment accounts that can be established for U.S. children under age […]
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