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Student loan debt reached $1.48 trillion in America by the end of 2019, with approximately 45 million borrowers across the United States.1 Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many Americans have experienced financial instability. This means that for 45 million Americans, paying down student loan debt may be harder than ever before. Last year, the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27. While this stimulus package provided a wide array of assistance for families and businesses, it also made some important changes to assist federal student loan borrowers. Through the end of September 2020, federal student loan payments were suspended and no further interest was accrued. This date was extended twice, initially until the end of December and again until the end of January 2021.2

Tony Hsieh, former CEO of Zappos, died at 46 due to smoke inhalation from a house fire over the Thanksgiving holiday. Several months prior, Hsieh retired from his position as CEO of Zappos with an estimated net worth of $840 million.1 Since his death, his family has determined he died intestate, meaning he had no will. In response, his family has filed for access to the former CEO’s accounts and assets.2 Earlier this year, “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman lost his battle with colon cancer - Boseman also died intestate. His wife has since had to file paperwork in probate court to gain access to his estate, which has an estimated value of about $938,500.3 The moral of the story? No one, no matter how much they have, is immune to an untimely death. And while you may not have a net worth of $840 million, your assets are still significant and require proper planning.

It’s time for the new year, a new budget and a brighter future for you and your family. 2020 accosted us in a lot of ways that may have you feeling financially unstable, but you can make 2021 the year you have victory over your financial life. Use these resolutions to create a realistic budget that will let you pay down your debts and give you the opportunity to put something away, while not forcing you to be too extreme in order to make it happen.

Student loan debt has reached $37,584 on average per borrower. This debt can be crippling for any recent graduate, but especially for a new educator. Luckily, there are a variety of loan forgiveness programs that educators can use to reduce their debt. These options include: The Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program Public Service Loan Forgiveness Perkins Loan Cancellation State-Backed forgiveness programs Learn more about each program to determine which one may work best for your unique circumstances.

As Americans, we love giving back. In 2017 alone, we shelled out $410.02 billion in charitable donations - accounting for 2.1 percent of the GDP.1 With the 2020 holiday season officially upon us, it’s no surprise that our giving efforts are likely ramping up. And while donating to charities is an integral component of your core values, it can also be an important, strategic play in lowering your tax obligation. This year, charitable contributions can count even more toward lowering tax bills for some. Thanks to the CARES Act, which passed in late March 2020 amidst the coronavirus pandemic, your giving could stretch even further this tax season.

According to a recent survey, 87 percent of U.S. adults feel that the risk of becoming a victim of a cybercrime is growing.1 In fact, online crimes including server breaches are the single largest criminal threat facing small businesses. For large and small businesses alike, it should come as no surprise that more Americans have been shopping online due to the COVID-19 pandemic - and this trend will likely continue until the pandemic subsides. In fact, with Cyber Monday approaching, these numbers are expected to rise. In 2019, Cyber Monday shattered the online sales record with $9.4 billion in revenue - and that was before social distancing.2 This means that protecting yourself when you shop online is something you need to take seriously. These seven tips can help holiday online shoppers safeguard information when buying from an online retailer.