Search here...
Home Blog

Michigan Credit Union Offering a 4.99% 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Special

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0
Michigan Credit Union Offering a 4.99% 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Special


It seems more and more banks and lenders are banking on mortgage rates moving lower in the near future.

The latest being a Michigan-based credit union, which decided to offer a below-market mortgage rate to its members.

Part of the reason is because they have excess cash. The other is that they think mortgage rates are going to come down.

As such, they can snag more customers now and lock them in with a rate that can’t be beat.

It makes you wonder if the worst truly is behind us mortgage rate-wise.

Why a 4.99% Mortgage Rate Now?

Michigan Legacy Credit Union is running a mortgage rate sale of sorts, phrased as a “member giveback.”

For a limited time, the credit union is offering a below-market mortgage rate of 4.99% to its members.

That’s significantly cheaper than the going rate for a 30-year fixed at the moment, last reported to be 6.35%, per Freddie Mac.

The rationale is driven by a few things, one clearly being that its newsworthy to offer a super low mortgage rate at a time like this.

They got my attention and the attention of other journalists, including the Detroit Free Press who initially covered this story.

Another is that because business has been slow for a while, they’ve got excess cash that needs to be deployed.

Remember, banks (and credit unions) need to lend the money they bring in as deposits, and it seems this is a good middle ground for the cash.

Speaking of, only $25 million will be offered via this deal, so it is limited in nature. And it’s reserved for locals, as the credit union only has branches in Flat Rock, Highland Township, Pontiac, Warren, and Wyandotte.

However, Michigan Legacy Credit Union considers itself a “low-income credit union,” so those funds should go fairly far on your average home purchase.

This deal is good for both home purchases and those refinancing a mortgage not currently with the credit union.

It does require one discount point paid at closing, so on a $300,000 loan, we’re talking $3,000, which is fairly reasonable and normal to get a below-market rate.

Are Banks and Lenders Front Running Lower Mortgage Rates?

Aside from that, their president Carma Peters noted that if mortgage rates fall in the future, their customers would be less likely to refinance.

After all, if they have a significantly lower rate than what’s currently available, it would take even lower rates for a refinance to make sense.

However, she did note that rates are projected to drop further, something a lot of folks seem to believe these days.

Recently, Chase Home Lending launched a refinance sale themselves, offering reduced interest rates to their customers for a limited time.

This feels somewhat similar, and I surmised that Chase might be doing it because they expect even lower mortgage rates in coming months too.

So in a sense they’re kind of front-running this expectation and attempting to drive more business, knowing rates could be even cheaper soon.

But it still gets them the business today and disincentives a refinance if their customer already locks in a low rate.

You do wonder though if they’re wrong and mortgage rates somehow turn higher. Anything is possible, and we saw basically the same exact thing last year.

When the Fed finally cut, mortgage rates bounced higher. That may or may not happen this year, and even if it does, it could prove temporary.

There does seem to be a decent tailwind for lower mortgage rates at the moment, more so than there was last year now that Trump’s policy stuff is baked in and the labor market appears to be cracking.

Colin Robertson
Latest posts by Colin Robertson (see all)

(Ends 9/17) Chase Southwest Personal Cards: 100,000 Points with $4,000 Spend In 5 Months

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0
(Ends 9/17) Chase Southwest Personal Cards: 100,000 Points with $4,000 Spend In 5 Months


Sites with affiliate links are saying this will end on 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, September 17, 2025

The Offer

Direct Link to offer (be sure to choose the card version)

Chase is offering the following bonus on the Southwest Plus, Premier, and Priority cards:

  • Earn 100,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 5 months from account opening.

Offer valid through 9/17/25.

 

Card Details

  • Annual fees are not waived the first year; note: annual fees have increased: Plus is $99, Premier is $149, Priority is $229.
  • Card earns the following rates:
    • 2x/3x/4x points for Plus/Premier/Priority for every $1 you spend on Southwest Airlines purchases
    • 2x points for every $1 you spend on Rapid Rewards hotel and car partners
    • 2x points per $1 you spend on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
    • 2x points per $1 you spend on internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming
    • 1x points for every $1 you spend on everyday purchases
    • Special rates on specific cards:
      • Plus: 2X at Gas stations and Grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per year.
      • Premier: Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at grocery stores and restaurants on the first $8,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year. 
      • Priority: Earn 2X at Gas stations and at Restaurants
  • First checked bag free. Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost. (Since Southwest no longer offers free checked bags for everyone, they added it as a benefit for cardholders.)
  • No foreign transaction fees on all 3 cards
  • Cardmembers and up to 8 passengers in the same reservation will board with Group 5 giving them earlier access to overhead bins.
  • Seat selection within 48 hours prior to departure when available. For the Plus card it’s for a Standard seat. For the Premier and Priority and for both business cards it’s for Standard or Preferred seat.
  • Get 25% back on in-flight purchases
  • The Plus and Premier get  2 earlybird check-ins per year
  • Premier card gets 15% Flight Discount each year on your cardmember anniversary (Excludes Basic fare); Plus card gets 10% Discount.
  • Premier and Priority earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent, with no limit on the amount of TQPs you can earn
  • The Premier personal card earns a 6,000 points anniversary bonus; the Plus earns 3,000 points anniversary bonus; the Priority earns 7,500 anniversary bonus
  • The Plus and Premier personal and business cards get a new benefit of 2 earlybird check-ins per year
  • Priority card gets: Preferred Seat selection at booking when available, Upgrade to Extra Legroom seat within 48 hours prior to departure when available, Earn 2,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $5,000 spent annually.
  • All cards (besides Plus personal and Plus business) earn 1,500 tier qualifying points towards A-List status for every $10,000 spent, with no limit on the amount of TQPs you can earn.
  • All cards (besides Performance Business) get 25% back on in-flight purchases.
  • Southwest credit cardholders get 10,000 Companion Pass-qualifying miles which brings down their overall miles required to get the pass from 135,000 to 125,000
  • Chase 5/24 rule does apply to this card
  • How Much Are Southwest Rapid Rewards Points Worth?
  • Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Southwest Companion Pass

See the post: Chase Southwest Cards Increase Annual Fees & Change Benefits for a roundup of changes in benefits and fees on the new updated card.

Our Verdict

This is the best signup bonus offer we’ve seen on the personal Chase Southwest cards. The best we’ve seen in the past was 85,000.

This offer is also available via referral links. The old referral links show ‘offer not available’ and reroute to the new offer. I’m not certain that referrals track in that case, let us know if you have experience. Regardless, you can likely generate a new referral link and that should work cleanly. No referral sharing in the comments below.

I like the long five months to meet the spend requirement. This makes it easier, and can also potentially help for timing the Southwest Companion Pass. 

We’ll add this eventually to our list of Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses. Before applying, check out these 26 Things Everybody Should Know About Chase Credit Cards.

  • Follow-up post: Getting Two Years Southwest Companion Pass With The New 100k Card Signup Bonus (2026-2027)

No referral sharing in the comments below.

How Physicians Are Using Technology (and Smart Systems) to Create More Income in Their Practices Without Burnout

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0
How Physicians Are Using Technology (and Smart Systems) to Create More Income in Their Practices Without Burnout


Physicians are no strangers to change. But in recent years, many of us have felt the mounting pressure: increasing administrative tasks, declining reimbursements, and growing burnout.

It’s not just a matter of making ends meet. It’s about preserving the energy, time, and clarity we need to deliver the level of care our patients deserve.

If you’re in private practice, you may have found yourself wondering: Is there a better way to run my practice—one that’s sustainable for me and better for my patients?

The good news is: yes, there is.

More and more physicians are discovering ways to both improve patient care and generate additional income using technology and smart systems already within reach. Here are three of the most practical, proven approaches.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Any investment involves risk, and you should consult your financial advisor, attorney, or CPA before making any investment decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The author and associated entities disclaim any liability for loss incurred as a result of the use of this material or its content.

1. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

Remote Patient Monitoring allows physicians to track chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure using connected devices patients use at home—such as blood pressure monitors or glucose meters. These devices transmit data directly to your practice, allowing for more continuous, personalized care.

The best part? This model supports early intervention, reduces ER visits and hospitalizations, and empowers patients to stay engaged in their care.

For physicians, RPM is also reimbursable—often around $100 to $120 per patient per month—making it one of the most effective ways to create a recurring revenue stream that rewards better patient outcomes.

I recently spoke with Dr. Tyler De Jong, an internist in Southern California, who implemented RPM through the platform DrKumo.

“I was a reluctant client,” he said. “But once we saw how it actually helped our patients and created steady income for our practice, it became a no-brainer. We were communicating more, intervening sooner, and the tech support made it seamless for our team.”

This is a perfect example of technology enhancing—not replacing—the physician-patient relationship.

2. Chronic Care Management (CCM)

If you’re regularly managing patients with two or more chronic conditions, you’re already doing the kind of work CCM was designed to support: reviewing labs, adjusting medications, coordinating with specialists, answering questions between visits.

CCM allows you to structure this care, often delegating it to your medical assistant or nurse, and receive reimbursement (typically $60–$90 per patient per month) for the time spent improving outcomes outside of face-to-face visits.

Patients benefit from better continuity of care, consistent check-ins, and fewer gaps between appointments. And your practice benefits from a reliable monthly income stream without adding new patients or hours.

It’s one of the clearest examples of a win-win model that rewards the proactive, thoughtful care physicians are already providing.

3. Office-Based Procedures

This is one of the most overlooked opportunities sitting in plain sight.

Many physicians have the training and ability to perform reimbursable in-office procedures but rarely offer them consistently—or bill for them properly. This includes:

  • Joint injections
  • Skin biopsies
  • Cryotherapy
  • I&Ds
  • EKGs and spirometry
  • Endometrial biopsies

Adding just a handful of these procedures per week can translate to thousands in additional income per month, without adding new patients or major overhead.

These services also improve access and convenience for your patients, and allow you to maximize the value of each visit. It’s one of the fastest ways to make your existing practice more profitable.

It’s Not Just About Revenue—It’s About Better Care

I want to be clear: these strategies aren’t about chasing profit at the expense of patients. Quite the opposite.

They’re about creating a practice that allows you to:

  • Spend more time with your patients
  • Intervene earlier and more effectively
  • Offer services that are convenient, high-quality, and coordinated
  • Reduce hospitalizations, complications, and delays in care

And yes, they also happen to support the financial health of your practice, so that you can continue serving patients without burning out or scaling unsustainably.

The truth is, when physicians are supported—clinically and financially—patients win, too.

The Common Thread: Leverage

All three of these strategies—RPM, CCM, and office-based procedures—have one thing in common: they allow you to leverage what you already have.

You’re not launching a new business or seeing more patients. You’re:

  • Leveraging your existing patient base
  • Leveraging your clinical staff
  • Leveraging your existing skill set
  • Leveraging reimbursable services for care you’re already providing

This is exactly the kind of leverage physicians need more of. Because the solution to burnout isn’t always outside of medicine—it’s often inside your practice, if you know where to look.

Subscribe to receive the 7 Steps you can follow to achieve Financial Freedom

If financial freedom is your goal, there’s no better time to get started than right now.

Unlock actionable steps that you can take every day to fine-tune your goals, discover your interests, and avoid costly mistakes on your financial freedom journey.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been looking for a way to improve the financial sustainability of your practice and elevate the care you provide, these strategies are an excellent place to start.

They represent a new model of practicing medicine—one where the systems support the physician, the patient, and the mission of care.

This is how we protect the joy of practicing medicine.
This is how we take back control, not just of our income, but of our ability to make an impact.

If you’re exploring these options or have questions about implementation, feel free to reach out or share what’s working in your practice. We’re all in this together.

This post is for educational purposes only and not to be considered financial advice. As always, do your own due diligence before making any investment decisions.

Were these helpful in any way? Make sure to sign up for the newsletter and join the Passive Income Docs Facebook Group for more physician-tailored content.

Peter Kim, MD is the founder of Passive Income MD, the creator of Passive Real Estate Academy, and offers weekly education through his Monday podcast, the Passive Income MD Podcast. Join our community at the Passive Income Doc Facebook Group.

Further Reading



For the first time since 2019, the Fed could split both ways on a rate decision

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0
For the first time since 2019, the Fed could split both ways on a rate decision



In a sign of how unusual this week’s Federal Reserve meeting is, the decision it will make on interest rates — usually the main event — is just one of the key unknowns to be resolved when officials gather Tuesday and Wednesday.

For now, it’s not even clear who will be there. The meeting will likely include Lisa Cook, an embattled governor, unless an appeals court or the Supreme Court rules in favor of an effort by President Donald Trump to remove her from office. And it will probably include Stephen Miran, a top White House economic aide whom Trump has nominated to fill an empty seat on the Fed’s board. But those questions may not be resolved until late Monday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. economy is mired in uncertainty. Hiring has slowed sharply, while inflation remains stubbornly high.

So a key question for the Fed is: Do they worry more about people who are out of work and struggling to find jobs, or do they focus more on the struggles many Americans face in keeping up with rising costs for groceries and other items? The Fed’s mandate from Congress requires it to seek both stable prices and full employment.

For now, Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed policymakers have signaled the Fed is more concerned about weaker hiring, a key reason investors expect the central bank will reduce its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point on Wednesday to about 4.1%.

Still, stubbornly high inflation may force them to proceed slowly and limit how many reductions they make. The central bank will also release its quarterly economic projections Wednesday, and economists project they will show that policymakers expect one or two additional cuts this year, plus several more next year.

Ellen Meade, an economics professor at Duke University and former senior economist at the Fed, said it’s a stark contrast to the early pandemic, when it was clear the Fed had to rapidly reduce rates to boost the economy. And when inflation surged in 2021 and 2022, it was also a straightforward call for the Fed, which moved quickly to raise borrowing costs to combat higher prices.

But now, “it’s a tough time,” Meade said. “It would be a tough time, even if the politics and the whole thing weren’t going on the way they are, it would be a tough time. Some people would want to cut, some people would not want to cut.”

Amid all the economic uncertainty, Trump is applying unprecedented political pressure on the Fed, demanding sharply lower rates, seeking to fire Cook, and insulting Powell, whom he has called a “numbskull,” “fool,” and “moron.”

Loretta Mester, a former president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and finance professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, said that Fed officials won’t let the criticisms sway their decisions on policy. Still, the attacks are unfortunate, she said, because they threaten to undermine the Fed’s credibility with the public.

“Added to their list of the difficulty of making policy because of how the economy is performing, they also have to contend with the fact that there may be some of the public that’s skeptical about how they’ve gone about making their decisions,” she said.

David Andolfatto, an economics professor at the University of Miami and former top economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, said that presidents have pressured Fed chairs before, but never as personally or publicly.

“What’s unusual about this is the level of open disrespect and just childishness,” Andolfatto said. “I mean, this is just beyond the pale.”

There are typically 12 officials who vote on the Fed’s policies at each meeting — the seven members of the Fed’s board of governors, as well as five of the 12 regional bank presidents, who vote on a rotating basis.

If a court rules that Cook can be fired, or Miran isn’t approved in time, then just 11 officials will vote on Wednesday. Either way, there ought to be enough votes to approve a quarter-point cut, but there could be an unusual amount of division.

Miran, if he is on the board, and Governor Michelle Bowman may dissent in opposition to a quarter-point reduction in favor of a steeper half-point cut.

There could be additional dissenting votes in the other direction, potentially from regional bank presidents who might oppose any cuts at all. Beth Hammack, president of the Fed’s Cleveland branch, and Jeffrey Schmid, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, have both expressed concern that inflation has topped the Fed’s 2% target for more than four years and is still elevated. If either votes against a cut, it would be the first time there were dissents in both directions from a Fed decision since 2019.

“This degree of division is unusual, but the circumstances are unusual, too,” Andolfatto said. “This is a situation central banks really don’t like: The combination of inflationary pressure and labor market weakness.”

Hiring has slowed in recent months, with employers shedding 13,000 jobs in June and adding just 22,000 in August, the government reported earlier this month. And last week a preliminary report from the Labor Department showed that companies added far fewer jobs in the year ending in March than previously estimated.

At the same time, inflation picked up a bit last month and remains above the Fed’s 2% target. According to the consumer price index, core prices — excluding food and energy — rose 3.1% in August compared with a year earlier..

With inflation still elevated, the Fed may have to proceed slowly with any further cuts, which would likely further frustrate the Trump White House.

“When you get to turning points, people can reasonably disagree about when to go,” Meade said.

From Idea to Manuscript: AI-Powered Book Writing for Entrepreneurs

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0


Disclosure: Our goal is to feature products and services that we think you’ll find interesting and useful. If you purchase them, Entrepreneur may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners.

We’ve all seen the stats: a huge percentage of professionals say they want to write a book. But between client calls, internal meetings, and just keeping your inbox manageable, it’s no surprise that the manuscript remains a Google Doc titled “Book_Outline_FINAL_v3”.

That’s where Youbooks comes in. It’s an AI-powered non-fiction book generator built for entrepreneurs who have insights worth sharing with the world, but not 300+ hours to write them down. And unlike most tools in the productivity or publishing space, this one comes with a lifetime subscription for $49 (reg. $540)—no monthly fees and no subscription fatigue necessary.

Built for busy entrepreneurs with ideas worth sharing

Youbooks pulls together the power of multiple AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama) and a 1,000-step production pipeline to create structured, research-backed manuscripts up to 300,000 words. It even integrates real-time online research to keep things current and customizable, down to tone and voice.

The platform’s credit system gives you 150,000 monthly AI credits, enough to produce dozens of full-length drafts annually. You can export in formats like PDF, EPUB, DOCX, or Markdown—and yes, you get full commercial rights to your content. That means you’re free to publish, monetize, or pitch to traditional publishers without any of the usual licensing headaches.

While Youbooks takes your ideas and makes them come to fruition in manuscript form, it’s not a magic wand—you’ll still need to edit, review, and shape your book. However, this tool handles the heavy lifting that often stops the process before it starts.

If you’ve been sitting on an idea for a leadership guide, professional memoir, or industry handbook for fellow colleagues, this could be your easiest on-ramp to publishing. And with a one-time price tag that’s lower than most online courses, it may also be one of the smartest.

Good ideas shouldn’t stay stuck in your notes app forever.

Put your ideas into a long-form manuscript with help from this Youbooks lifetime subscription, now just $49 while supplies last.

Youbooks – AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription

See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

We’ve all seen the stats: a huge percentage of professionals say they want to write a book. But between client calls, internal meetings, and just keeping your inbox manageable, it’s no surprise that the manuscript remains a Google Doc titled “Book_Outline_FINAL_v3”.

That’s where Youbooks comes in. It’s an AI-powered non-fiction book generator built for entrepreneurs who have insights worth sharing with the world, but not 300+ hours to write them down. And unlike most tools in the productivity or publishing space, this one comes with a lifetime subscription for $49 (reg. $540)—no monthly fees and no subscription fatigue necessary.

Built for busy entrepreneurs with ideas worth sharing

The rest of this article is locked.

Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

A day in the life of a trader ⏰ #crypto #trading #memes

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
38
A day in the life of a trader ⏰ #crypto #trading #memes



Meet Ponke. He’s just like you — impulsive, curious, wired for risk… and reward.
The monkey brain knows: fortune favors the bold.
Ponke isn’t just a coin. Ponke is culture. 🐒
Put a helmet on and answer the call. 🪖

💰 Buy $PONKE:
moonshot.money/PONKE?ref=g8uB1EqAma

🛒 Buy official Ponke gear:
shop.ponke.xyz

🌐 ponke.xyz
📸 instagram.com/ponkesolana
𝕏 x.com/ponkesol
💬 t.me/PonkeHQ
🎵 tiktok.com/@ponkesolana

🧠 Smart Contract Addresses:
• Solana: 5z3EqYQo9HiCEs3R84RCDMu2n7anpDMxRhdK8PSWmrRC
• Base: 0x4A0c64af541439898448659AEdcEC8E8e819FC53

source

Bitcoin ETPs Are Significantly Shaping BTC Price Performance : Analysis

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0


Over the past year, Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) have emerged as a pivotal force in shaping the performance of Bitcoin (BTC), according to André Dragosch, Director and Head of Research – Europe at Bitwise.

What began as a significant milestone for traditional financial markets has evolved into a structural shift, with Bitcoin ETPs increasingly dictating short-term price dynamics and surpassing the influence of on-chain metrics and other traditional indicators.

This transformation highlights a maturing market structure for Bitcoin, where liquidity, accessibility, and institutional participation are no longer secondary factors but primary drivers of the asset’s behavior.

In the first part of a new series by Bitwise, Dragosch and his team explore how this shift is unfolding and why ETPs are poised to remain a cornerstone of Bitcoin’s market narrative moving forward.

Bitcoin ETPs, which include exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similar products, provide investors with exposure to Bitcoin’s price movements without the complexities of directly owning or storing the cryptocurrency.

These instruments have gained traction due to their accessibility, regulatory oversight, and integration into traditional financial systems, making them attractive to both retail and institutional investors.

Dragosch notes that net flows into Bitcoin ETPs have become a critical indicator of market sentiment, often overshadowing on-chain metrics such as transaction volume, hash rate, or wallet activity, which have historically been key drivers of Bitcoin’s price.

This shift reflects a broader trend: Bitcoin is no longer just a decentralized digital asset but a financial instrument increasingly embedded in the global investment ecosystem.

The growing dominance of Bitcoin ETPs can be attributed to several factors.

First, they have significantly enhanced liquidity in the Bitcoin market. By offering a regulated and familiar investment vehicle, ETPs have lowered barriers to entry, enabling a wider range of investors to participate.

This increased liquidity has reduced volatility to some extent and provided a more stable trading environment, which in turn attracts more institutional capital.

Second, ETPs have facilitated greater institutional participation, a trend that has been building since the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs in major markets like the United States.

Institutional investors, such as hedge funds and asset managers, are now allocating significant capital to Bitcoin through these products, further amplifying their impact on price dynamics.

Dragosch emphasizes that net flows into Bitcoin ETPs are now a leading indicator of short-term price movements.

For instance, periods of strong inflows often correlate with bullish price action, as increased demand through ETPs directly influences Bitcoin’s spot market.

Conversely, outflows can signal bearish sentiment, putting downward pressure on prices.

This dynamic has reduced the relative importance of on-chain metrics, which, while still relevant for understanding Bitcoin’s long-term fundamentals, are less predictive of short-term price behavior in this new market structure.

The shift underscores how Bitcoin is evolving from a niche asset driven by crypto-native factors to one shaped by broader financial market forces.

Looking ahead, Bitcoin ETPs are likely to remain a dominant force in the cryptocurrency’s market narrative.

As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve and more jurisdictions approve Bitcoin ETPs, their accessibility and appeal will (most likely) only grow.

This trend is already evident in markets like Europe and Canada, where ETPs have been available for years, and in the U.S., where spot Bitcoin ETFs launched in 2024 have seen billions in inflows.

The Bitwise report suggests that ETPs will continue to drive institutional adoption, further integrating Bitcoin into traditional portfolios and solidifying its place in the global financial system.

However, this transformation also raises questions about Bitcoin’s original ethos of decentralization.

As institutional participation grows and ETPs dominate price dynamics, the influence of retail investors and on-chain activity may wane.

Nevertheless, Dragosch argues that this evolution is a net positive, as it enhances Bitcoin’s long-term stability.



Should You Refinance Student Loans If Rates Fall?

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0
Should You Refinance Student Loans If Rates Fall?


Key Points

  • The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates this week, creating potential opportunities for student loan borrowers to refinance.
  • Refinancing could lower monthly payments and total interest costs but carries tradeoffs, especially for federal loan holders.

  • Borrowers must weigh the benefits of private refinancing against the loss of federal protections like income-driven repayment and loan forgiveness.

The Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates this week, marking a shift after years of aggressive hikes. The CME FedWatch Tool is currently signaling a 100% probability of a Fed rate cut.

For borrowers, particularly those with private student loans, lower rates could make refinancing more attractive. Refinancing allows borrowers to replace existing loans with a new loan, ideally at a lower interest rate.

Odds of a Fed Rate Cut | CME Group FedWatch Tool

Consider a borrower with $50,000 in loans at an average rate of 6.5%. Refinancing to 4.5% would reduce both monthly payments and the total interest owed over the life of the loan. The impact can be substantial for those with large balances.

However, the decision isn’t straightforward. For federal loan borrowers, refinancing with a private lender means permanently giving up access to federal programs like income-driven repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and hardship options such as deferment. That tradeoff can outweigh the savings from lower rates for many.

Would you like to save this?

We’ll email this article to you, so you can come back to it later!

When Refinancing Makes Sense

Borrowers with high interest rate private loans should always be looking for refinancing opportunities, especially if they can qualify for a fixed rate that is better than their current loan. Even a one-point reduction in rate can lead to thousands in savings over time.

It’s important to note that private education loans don’t charge origination fees, and they don’t have prepayment penalties. That means that you can get a new loan at anytime with no additional costs.

If you currently have a $50,000 loan at 9% interest, your monthly payment is likely around $633 per month for a 10 year term. If you can drop that rate to 6%, you lower your payment to $555 per month.

You’ll also pay significantly less over the life of the loan as a result.

The only way to know if you can save on interest is to shop and compare at least 3-5 student loan refinance lenders.

Who Should Not Refinance Their Student Loans

Federal student loan holders face a tougher choice. Those who are confident they won’t need income-driven repayment or forgiveness programs might see refinancing as a way to cut costs. But for the majority, keeping federal protections could be more valuable than shaving a few percentage points off interest.

A rule of thumb: borrowers in stable, high-income professions with no plans to rely on federal programs may benefit most from refinancing. Others should think carefully before giving up flexible repayment options.

When you refinance your federal loan, you now have a private loan. That means you’ll no longer be eligible for income-driven repayment plans, student loan forgiveness programs, and more.

The Bottom Line

Borrowers thinking about refinancing their student loans should take a few key steps:

  • Check your credit: Lenders offer their best rates for those with strong credit scores and low debt-to-income ratios.
  • Compare multiple offers (at least 3-5): Rates and terms vary widely, so shop around with different lenders.
  • Decide on fixed vs. variable rates: A fixed rate provides certainty, while a variable rate could be cheaper initially but carry risk if rates climb again.
  • Weigh federal benefits: For federal loan holders, the loss of protections must be part of the calculation.

For many, refinancing is less about chasing the absolute lowest rate and more about finding balance between immediate savings and long-term flexibility. The lowest rates will always go to shorter-term loans.

The potential for falling interest rates has created new opportunities for student loan borrowers. But refinancing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The benefits are clear for those with private loans or for borrowers certain they won’t rely on federal programs.

For others, the security and protections of federal loans may outweigh any savings.

Don’t Miss These Other Stories:

@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css=”tve-u-19949eca147″].tcb-post-list #post-19778 [data-css=”tve-u-19949eca14d”]{background-image: url(“https://thecollegeinvestor.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/WP_COLLEGE-150×150.jpg”) !important;}}

10 Best Free Checking Accounts In September 2025

10 Best Free Checking Accounts In September 2025
@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css=”tve-u-19949eca147″].tcb-post-list #post-57599 [data-css=”tve-u-19949eca14d”]{background-image: url(“https://thecollegeinvestor.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Depositphotos_11915798_XL-150×150.jpg”) !important;}}

195,000 Borrowers Notified Of Collections With More To Come

195,000 Borrowers Notified Of Collections With More To Come

Editor: Colin Graves

The post Should You Refinance Student Loans If Rates Fall? appeared first on The College Investor.

Fed’s Cook called Atlanta property a vacation home, records show

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0
Fed’s Cook called Atlanta property a vacation home, records show



Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook described an Atlanta property at the center of a lawsuit over her attempted ouster as a “vacation home,” according to documents viewed by Bloomberg News.

The May 28, 2021, loan estimate was issued by a credit union to Cook weeks before she ultimately purchased the home. The document shows she told the lender that the property wouldn’t be her primary residence.

The records were first reported by Reuters, which cited two real estate experts who said the documents appear to contradict other records Trump administration officials have used to justify Cook’s removal from the Fed Board of Governors. 

READ MORE: Cook allegations suggest new mortgage fraud priorities

Trump officials have accused the Biden appointee of mortgage fraud, pointing to two loan documents signed by Cook — for the property in Atlanta and a separate one in Michigan — that included clauses that she would occupy the homes as primary residences. The real estate transactions predated her time on the Fed.

Cook sued President Donald Trump last month after he moved to fire her over the mortgage-fraud allegations. The lawsuit has emerged as a major flash point in the growing clash between the White House and the Fed, which has resisted Trump’s demands to lower interest rates amid worries over inflation.

Cook’s lawyers have said that if there were any errors in the mortgage documents she didn’t mean to deceive anyone, and no one was harmed, a standard known as materiality. They have also suggested that an unintentional “clerical error” may have been behind the dispute.

READ MORE: Occupancy fraud scrutiny raises questions for lenders

The Justice Department, which opened a criminal probe into the allegations, is appealing a judge’s decision blocking Trump from ousting Cook. An appeals court asked for written arguments over the weekend before the Fed’s upcoming vote on interest rates, suggesting a decision as soon as Sunday evening.

Fed officials are expected to lower rates by a quarter-point at their Sept. 16-17 gathering. Cook’s participation in the meeting is not expected to change the outcome. 



Falling Wedge Pattern Points To 64% Rally – Investorempires.com

globalinvestmentstrategy.com
-
0








Falling Wedge Pattern Points To 64% Rally – Investorempires.com







































You cannot print contents of this website.

123...88Page 1 of 88

About Us

Get the Latest Insights based on: business, finance, mortgage, credit cards, Investments and better Ways to Make Money Online

Categories

Latest news

Popular news

© 2024. All Rights Reserved.