Planned Solutions

In this episode of the Planned Solutions Incorporated Podcast, Student loan payments and interest charges are set to start once again on September 1st. However, the new SAVE Plan has expanded the rules for income-based student loan payments to reduce the payment amount for many borrowers. The definition of low-income borrowers has been expanded so more borrowers will qualify for zero payments under the new plan. In addition, those with income over the zero-payment threshold will be required to pay just 5% of their income rather than the 10% required previously. Also, Utility stocks used to be considered low-risk investments that offered good income yields. However, times have changed, and many utility stocks face elevated risks due to high debt ratios and increased legal risks while the dividend yields have not kept pace with rising bond yields. This makes utilities a risker investment category that should be analyzed carefully before investing. As well, In the past, employer-sponsored retirement plans only