Surprises May Be in Store for Online Shoppers in the Tariff Era
On April 2, 2025, President Trump issued an executive order eliminating the de minimis exemption for low-value imports from China, which previously allowed U.S. consumers to buy goods worth up to $800 directly from online marketplaces based outside of the United States without paying duties. Since the order took effect on May 2, some U.S. […]
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New Tax Legislation: What’s on the Table
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, narrowly passed the House of Representatives on May 22, 2025. The legislation is now being deliberated in the Senate, after the Senate Committee on Finance released its own version of proposed tax provisions on June 16, 2025. which is generally limited […]
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Interest Rates on Federal Student Loans Drop Slightly for2025-2026
Every May, interest rates on federal student loans are reset for the upcoming school year. The rates are calculated by combining the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note with an additional fixed amount set by Congress. Based on this calculation, interest rates on federal student loans are set to decrease slightly for the 2025-2026 […]
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Moody’s Downgraded U.S. Debt: Does It Matter?
On Friday, May 16, 2025, Moody’s Ratings downgraded its rating on U.S. government long-term debt from its highest rating of Aaa to the next highest rating of Aa1. The move was particularly significant because Moody’s was the last of the Big Three credit rating agencies to maintain the triple-A rating for U.S. debt. S&P Global […]
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IRA Strategies During Uncertain Markets
Recent tariff-related market gyrations caught the attention of many wary investors, including IRA owners. Although markets (and the tariff situation) have stabilized a bit, the outlook remains uncertain. For this reason, you may want to keep two key points in mind: First, market dips create opportunities for Roth IRA conversions, and second, the timing of […]
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REAL ID Deadline Fast Approaching
After years of numerous delays, the REAL ID enforcement deadline is scheduled for May 7, 2025.1 What is a REAL ID? A REAL ID is a type of enhanced identification card that is signified by a star marking in the upper top portion of the card. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, […]
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Borrowers in Default on Federal Student Loans Face Imminent Collection Efforts
On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, 2025. The federal government hasn’t collected on defaulted loans since March 2020. Here is some background followed by answers to questions about the new policy. A history of payment pauses and court […]
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Tariffs: How They Work and Potential Economic Effects
On February 1, 2025, President Trump authorized an additional 25% tariff on all goods entering the United States from Canada and Mexico (except for a lower 10% tariff on energy resources from Canada) and an additional 10% tariff on all goods from China. Nine days later, Trump authorized a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum, […]
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Infographic: The Top Performing Stock Market Sectors in 2024
In 2024, nearly all S&P 500 sectors posted gains in a year defined by AI enthusiasm and a robust U.S. economy. Overall, 66% of companies ended the year in positive territory as the index achieved its best two-year performance since the late 1990s.This graphic compares S&P 500 sector returns in 2024, along with each sector’s […]
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Federal Tax Filing Season Has Started
The IRS began accepting and processing 2024 tax-year returns on Monday, January 27, 2025. Tips for making filing easier To speed a potential tax refund and help with tax filing, the IRS suggests the following: • Make sure you have received Form W-2 and other earnings information, such as Form 1099, from employers and payers. […]
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