Trump administration sends student loan forgiveness notices

People walk in front of the the U.S. Department of Education, amid reports that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration will take steps to defund the federal Education Department, in Washington, U.S., February 4, 2025.  Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Despite the government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Education is sending out notices to student loan borrowers…

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2026 tax brackets and income rates

Pra-chid | Istock | Getty Images The IRS has announced new federal income tax brackets and standard deductions for 2026. In its announcement Thursday, the agency raised the income thresholds for each bracket, which apply to tax year 2026 for returns filed in 2027. The IRS also boosted figures for other provisions, including long-term capital gains…

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Furloughed workers face threat of no back pay

Commuters cross the street near the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters on October 1, 2025 in Washington, DC. Al Drago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Government shutdowns have historically been an precarious time for federal workers, both for those required to remain on the job without pay and those furloughed. This shutdown comes…

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Trump’s tax changes for your charitable giving: What to know

New Year celebration concept. Front view. Close-up Anna Efetova | Moment | Getty Images President Donald Trump‘s “big beautiful bill” added trillions of dollars of tax breaks, some of which could impact your deduction for charitable giving. U.S. individual giving grew to $392.45 billion in 2024, up by about 5%, including inflation, from the previous year, according…

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Key financial steps for the end of the year

Strauss/curtis | The Image Bank | Getty Images Early in the fourth quarter is an ideal time to tackle some financial planning tasks that set you up for success for the rest of the year — and into 2026.  “It’s absolutely a great time to do that,” said Dan Moisand, a certified financial planner and…

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